Suh ChangWhoon
Written by 서 창훈, a certified Korean teacher with 14+ years of experience in Japan. He previously worked as a government officer, cybersecurity consultant, and English interpreter. Today, he teaches Korean in real classrooms without complex grammar explanations — instead, he trains students’ brains to speak naturally. His unique method is now the foundation of all his Korean courses.
Table of Contents
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.” Mastering this verb is fundamental because it’s an essential part of daily Korean conversations. While “먹다” is the standard form, knowing how to **eat in Korean informal** situations is equally important. You’ll often hear variations like “먹어” (meogeo) used among friends and family.
Understanding the nuances of formality when you “eat in Korean” will significantly improve your communication skills and help you navigate social situations more comfortably.
So, whether you’re formally learning how “to eat in Korean” or casually chatting with friends, “먹다” and its variations are indispensable vocabulary words.
To Eat in Korean Conjugation
To eat in Korean conjugation (먹다) is essential for anyone learning the language. Korean verbs change depending on the tense and politeness level, which can be both fascinating and challenging for learners. 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:
Example
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?
Example
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 (to/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.
This is just a small taste of my sentence breakdowns.
My “Story Style Breakdown™” method — where I teach grammar through simple, story-like sentence breakdowns—is only inside my course.
Most Korean courses stop at grammar. Mine goes beyond — with stories, breakdowns, and real practice to help you speak.
Making Requests:
Example
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:
Example
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.
Example
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:
Example
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?
Idiomatic Expressions with "먹다"
The verb “먹다” also appears in several idiomatic expressions:
Example
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
🧠 Why Many Learners Struggle With Verbs Like 먹다
Learning the dictionary form of a verb like 먹다 (to eat) is easy.
But using it in a real sentence? That’s where most learners get stuck.
You might:
Memorize “먹다” but forget how to say “I ate” or “Let’s eat”
Confuse polite vs casual forms
Know the meaning, but freeze when speaking
That’s because most learners study vocabulary lists, not living sentences.
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Conclusion: Mastering To Eat in Korean
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?
If you want to explore more about Korean verbs or learn through stories, check out our Korean courses and join the Korean Practice Community for interactive learning!
