술
sul[sʰuɭ]
The English word alcohol can be translated into Korean as 술 (sul). Wiktionary also lists 알코올 (alkool) and 알콜 (alkol).
Meaning: intoxicating beverage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 술 | sul | [sʰuɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 알코올 | alkool | [a̠ɭkʰo̞o̞ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 알콜 | alkol | [a̠ɭkʰo̞(ː)ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
술 is the standard way to talk about alcoholic beverages in everyday conversation, such as when you are buying alcohol or referring to the act of drinking in a social context. The most natural way to say 'to drink alcohol' is to use the verb 마시다 (to drink) with 술, forming the phrase 술을 마시다.
Which one should you use?
Use 술 when referring to alcoholic beverages in a general or social context. In contrast, use 알코올 when referring to alcohol as a chemical substance or within a medical or scientific context.
How do you pronounce it?
sul
Did you know?
- There is a unique social custom called 술잔 돌리기 where people take turns drinking from the same glass to symbolize friendship and bonding.
- The phrase 술이 깨다 literally means 'the alcohol wakes up' but is used to describe the process of sobering up.
- To avoid direct contact when drinking with a superior, it is customary to turn one's head and body away from the other person while sipping the 술.
Examples in context
- 알코올이 몸을 손상시킨다는 사실에도 불구하고, 많은 사람들은 여전히 음주를 즐겨한다.In spite of the fact that drinking alcohol damages their bodies, many people still like to drink it.This sentence shows the use of 알코올 in a context regarding the effects of the substance on the body.Tatoeba #8453548 by Eunhee, translation #7837702 by sharris123
- 어제 술을 너무 많이 마셔서 오늘 머리가 깨질 것처럼 아파요.I drank so much alcohol yesterday that my head feels like it will explode.This sentence demonstrates how to use 술 when discussing the experience of drinking.Tatoeba #2656060 by KoreanBeaver, translation #2834016 by 0ni
- 저는 술을 좋아해요.I enjoy alcohol.
- 술을 마실 때 안주가 필요해요.sul-eul masil ttae anju-ga piryo-haeyo.I need snacks when I drink alcohol.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to order at a restaurant.
- 도현 Do-hyeon민지 씨, 술 한잔할래요?Minji ssi, sul hanjan-hallae-yo?Minji, would you like to have a drink?
- 민지 Min-ji좋아요. 어떤 술을 마실까요?joayo. eotteon sureul masilkkayo?Sounds good. What kind of alcohol should we drink?
- 도현 Do-hyeon시원한 맥주가 좋을 것 같아요.siwonhan maekjuga joeul geot gatayo.I think a cold beer would be great.
- 민지 Min-ji저도 맥주가 좋아요.jeodo maekjuga joayo.I like beer too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alcohol” translations and entries 술, 알코올, 알콜, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
