고추
gochu[ko̞t͡ɕʰu]
The English phrase "chilli pepper" is translated into Korean as 고추 (gochu).
고추 refers to a spicy vegetable used in cooking to add heat to food.
How do you pronounce it?
gochu
Did you know?
- Korean speakers use 고추 as a common euphemism for a young boy's penis.
- In Korean culture, the shape of 고추 is often used as a symbolic wish for the birth of a son.
- The word 고추 originally meant 'black pepper' in the 15th century, long before the actual chili pepper arrived in Korea.
Examples in context
- 이 요리에 고추를 좀 넣어주세요.Please add some chilli pepper to this dish.
- 저 매운 고추로 요리를 더 맛있게 만들었어요.I made the dish even more delicious with those spicy chilli peppers.
- 나도 이 음식에 고추 좀 넣을래.I also want to add some chilli pepper to this dish.
- 고추를 넣으세요.Please put in the chilli pepper.
- 고추가 정말 매워요.gochuga jeongmal maewoyo.The chilli pepper is really spicy.
- 매운 고추를 넣을까요?maeun gochureul neoeulkkayo?Shall I add some spicy chilli peppers?
- 마트에서 빨간 고추를 샀어요.mateseo ppalgan gochureul sasseoyo.I bought red chilli peppers at the mart.
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Min-jun are cooking together in the kitchen.
- 지은 Ji-eun민준 씨, 고추 좀 넣어 줄래요?Minjun ssi, gochu jom neoeo jullaeyo?Min-jun, can you add some chilli peppers?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 여기 빨간 고추 있어요.Ne, yeogi ppalgan gochu isseoyo.Yes, here are the red chilli peppers.
- 지은 Ji-eun이 고추는 많이 매울까요?I gochuneun mani maeulkkayo?Will these chilli peppers be very spicy?
- 민준 Min-jun조금 맵지만 맛있을 거예요.Jogeum maepjiman masisseul geoyeyo.They are a little spicy, but they will be delicious.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 고추, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 고추, CC BY-SA 4.0.
