If you’re learning Korean, one of the essential verbs to know is “먹다”, which means to eat in Korean. It’s a commonly used verb that helps you talk about meals, snacks, and even metaphorical expressions. In this blog, we’ll explore how to say eat in Korean in various contexts, along with plenty of examples to boost your Korean vocabulary.
Basic Meaning of To Eat in Korean
At its core, “먹다” (meok-dda) simply means “to eat in Korean.” It’s a regular verb and an essential part of Korean daily conversations.
How to Conjugate To Eat in Korean
Korean verbs change depending on the tense and politeness level. Here’s how to conjugate “먹다” in some common forms:
- Present Tense:
- Casual: 먹어 (meo-geo)
- Polite: 먹어요 (meo-geo-yo)
- Formal: 먹습니다 (meok-sseum-ni-da)
- Past Tense:
- Casual: 먹었어 (meo-geot-sseo)
- Polite: 먹었어요 (meo-geot-sseo-yo)
- Formal: 먹었습니다 (meo-geot-sseum-ni-da)
- Future Tense:
- Casual: 먹을 거야 (meo-geul ggeo-ya)
- Polite: 먹을 거예요 (meo-geul ggeo-ye-yo)
- Formal: 먹을 것입니다 (meo-geul ggeo-sim-ni-da)
Using To Eat in Korean in Sentences
Here are practical examples to help you use “to eat in Korean” effectively:
Describing Meals:
오늘 아침에 뭐 먹었어?
What did you eat for breakfast today?
Original Korean Sentence
오늘 아침에 뭐 먹었어?
Pronunciation Guide
오늘 (o-neul) 아치메 (a-chi-me) 뭐 (mwo) 머것써 (meo-geot-sseo)?
Meaning and Context
오늘 (today) 아침 (morning) 에 (in) 뭐 (what) 먹 (to eat) 었 (past tense) 어 (I’m asking you casually)?
English Translation
What did you eat for breakfast today?
Literal Translation
What did (you) eat in morning today?
Is learning how to say eat in Korean useful to you? To continue studying Korean this way, click the button below. My story courses are all designed to make Korean easy to understand, even without grammar.Go to Korean Course
점심으로 김밥을 먹어요.
I’m eating gimbap for lunch.
Original Korean Sentence
점심으로 김밥을 먹어요.
Pronunciation Guide
점시므로 (jeom-si-meu-ro) 김빠블 (gim-bba-beul) 머거요 (meo-geo-yo).
Meaning and Context
점심 (lunch) 으로 (for) 김밥 (Gimbap) 을 (my object is Gimbap) 먹 (to eat) 어요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
English Translation
I eat Gimbap for lunch.
Literal Translation
(I) eat Gimbap for lunch.
Making Requests:
이거 좀 먹어 봐.
Try eating this.
Original Korean Sentence
이거 좀 먹어 봐.
Pronunciation Guide
이거 (i-geo) 좀 (jom) 머거 (meo-geo) 봐 (bwa).
Meaning and Context
이거 (this; colloquial style of 이것) 좀 (I’m adding a softer or more polite tone) 먹 (to eat) 어 보 (try) 아 (I’m telling you to do this).
Pronunciation Patterns for Conjugations
⊳ 보 + 아 = 봐
When rapidly pronounced, ‘보’ and ‘아’ naturally combine to form ‘봐’.
English Translation
Try eating this.
Talking About Preferences:
나는 고기를 안 먹어요.
I don’t eat meat.
Original Korean Sentence
나는 고기를 안 먹어요.
Pronunciation Guide
나는 (na-neun) 고기를 (go-gi-reul) 안 (an) 머거요 (meo-geo-yo).
Meaning and Context
나 (I) 는 (I’m going to talk about me) 고기 (meat) 를 (my object is meat) 안 (not) 먹 (to eat) 어요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
English Translation
I don’t eat meat.
매운 음식을 좋아해서 많이 먹어요.
I love spicy food, so I eat it often.
Original Korean Sentence
매운 음식을 좋아해서, 많이 먹어요.
Pronunciation Guide
매운 (mae-un) 음시글 (eum-si-geul) 좋아해서 (jo-a-hae-seo), 마니 (ma-ni) 머거요 (meo-geo-yo).
Meaning and Context
매운 (spicy) 음식 (food) 을 (my object is spicy food) 좋아하 (to like) 해서 (so), 많이 (a lot) 먹 (to eat) 어요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
Pronunciation Patterns for Conjugations
⊳ 하 is changed to 해
English Translation
I love spicy food, so I eat it often.
Literal Translation
(I) like spicy food, so (I) eat a lot.
Expressing Needs:
배고파. 뭐 먹을까?
I’m hungry. What should we eat?
Original Korean Sentence
배고파. 뭐 먹을까?
Pronunciation Guide
배고파 (bae-go-pa). 뭐 (mwo) 머글까 (meo-geul-gga)?
Meaning and Context
배고프 (to be hungry) 아 (am; I’m telling you casually). 뭐 (what) 먹 (to eat) 을까 (should we; in a casual way)?
Pronunciation Patterns for Conjugations
⊳ 프 + 아 = 파
When rapidly pronounced, ‘프’ and ‘아’ naturally combine to form ‘파’.
English Translation
I’m hungry. What should we eat?
Literal Translation
(I)’m hungry. What should we eat?
Is learning how to say eat in Korean useful to you? To continue studying Korean this way, click the button below. My story courses are all designed to make Korean easy to understand, even without grammar.Go to Korean Course
Idiomatic Expressions with “먹다”
The verb “먹다” also appears in several idiomatic expressions:
- 욕을 먹다:
- To be scolded or criticized.
- Example: 실수해서 욕을 먹었어요.
(I made a mistake and got scolded.)
- 맘 먹다:
- To make up one’s mind.
- Example: 다이어트를 하기로 맘 먹었어요.
(I made up my mind to go on a diet.)
Related Keywords to Expand Your Vocabulary
When discussing “to eat in Korean,” it’s helpful to learn related terms:
- 음식: Food
- 배고프다: To be hungry
- 배부르다: To be full
- 요리하다: To cook
- 맛있다: Delicious
Conclusion
The verb “먹다” is a vital part of learning Korean, as it’s used in daily life and various expressions. By mastering “to eat in Korean,” you’ll gain confidence in speaking and expand your vocabulary. So, why not start practicing today?
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