Cursing in Korean is an act that makes you feel like one of those badass dudes in gangster movies. The Korean language is forceful, accentuated, and generally can be described as ‘meaning business.’ Add the emotion and vibrancy that comes with cursing and the words are just plain powerful.
How to curse in Korean: The Basics
Dong-mogo or Dong-mukuh – Eat shit
Geseki – Son of a bitch
Gesekida – Son of a bitch
Hop’ung or Ji ral yhun byung – Bullshit
Another form of Bullshit
Jot daegari – Dickhead
Kochu – Dick
Nimiral – Meaning Shit or Fuck, depending on context.
Yumago – Fuck you
Shibal – Fuck or Fuck You, depending on context
Gaejasik – Motherfucker
Shibseki – Commonly used to mean Bitch
Toejora – Go to hell
Um chang seki – Can be translated to Bastard or Mother Fucker
How To Curse In Korean: Make It Visual
Think of learning how to curse in Korean like learning basic math problems back in grade school (we know, there is quite a difference in the level of innocence involved, but for the sake of learning . . .). Remember how useful the chalk board was? Write these words down and then say them out loud. You’ll begin to memorize the terms and will also get better with pronunciation.
Here’s a great video on the subject:
Use flash cards
The same technique can be applied with flash cards. Write the curse words on the cards, bonus points if you use them in a sentence, and quiz yourself or have a friend quiz you. Put the English translation on the back side, as a sort of helpful hint if you get stuck.
How frequently do Korean speakers swear?
Actually, quite a bit. Right on par with English and Spanish speakers, and in my opinion, with much more force (I noted this earlier, but thought I’d re-emphasize.) On this note, it’s important to keep situational awareness top-of-mind when cursing in Korean. Avoid inadvertently offending someone by knowing what you are saying, the context in which the curse words are used, and what the intended reaction is.
How To Curse In Korean: Final Words
When practicing your Korean cursing, go over each words or phrases and repeat them out loud. If you don’t remember when or how to use a certain word, refer to the flash cards – a good reason to bring them with you as you travel and converse. Obviously you don’t want to just bust them out in the middle of a conversation, but having them in your back pocket can come in handy sometimes.
Practice pronunciation, maybe use Google Translate or audio recordings to help with this..
Why not take it a step further and actually learn how to speak Korean? It’s a beautiful language that is as engaging as it is exotic. Live Lingua’s immersive Korean lessons online are the best way to become fluent in Korean and enhance that upcoming trip.
Language learning is the gateway to the world. Who knows where you’ll end up!
Thinking beyond Korean curse words
If you’re traveling to South Korea, sign up for our free Korean Survival Crash Course. We’ll send you e-books and audio files to have you speaking basic Korean for your trip!