버블티
beobeulti[pʌ̹bɯɭtʰi]
The English phrase "boba" is translated into Korean as 버블티 (beobeulti).
버블티 refers to the tea-based drink containing chewy tapioca pearls. While English speakers often use the word 'boba' to refer to the drink, Korean speakers almost exclusively use the loanword 버블티 (bubble tea) to refer to this beverage.
How do you pronounce it?
beobeulti
Did you know?
- The texture of the pearls in 버블티 is often described using the word 쫄깃하다 (jjolgit-hada), a specific Korean term for a 'chewy' or 'springy' texture that has no direct English equivalent.
- Korean cafes often offer a 당도 (sugar level) and 얼음 양 (ice amount) customization menu for 버블티, allowing customers to choose precise percentages for their sweetness.
- If you are looking for the drink in a traditional Korean tea house, you will likely not find it, as 버블티 is associated with modern, Western-style cafe culture.
Examples in context
- 버블티 좋아해요?beobeultti joahaeyo?Do you like bubble tea?
- 저는 타피오카 버블티를 마셔요.jeoneun tapio-ka beobeulttireul masyeoyo.I drink tapioca bubble tea.
- 이 버블티 정말 달아요.i beobeultti jeongmal darayo.This bubble tea is really sweet.
Example conversation
Minji and Dohyun are walking near a cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨, 버블티 좋아해요?Dohyun ssi, beobeulti joahaeyo?Dohyun, do you like boba?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 정말 좋아해요.ne, jeongmal joahaeyo.Yes, I really like it.
- 민지 Min-ji그럼 여기서 버블티 사 마셔요.geureom yeogiseo beobeulti sa masyeoyo.Then let's buy some boba here.
- 도현 Do-hyeon좋아요. 제가 살게요.joayo. jega salgeyo.Sounds good. I'll buy it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 버블티, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
