Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 욕하다 | yokhada | [jokʰa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 욕을 하다 욕설하다 | yogeul hada |
In Korean, the verb used for cursing refers specifically to the act of using offensive language, swearing or profanity. It is important to distinguish this from the concept of a supernatural curse. For example, if you want to say someone is being cursed at or is receiving insults from others, a common idiomatic expression is 욕을 먹다, which literally translates to 'to eat insults'.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb 욕하다 is composed of the noun 욕, meaning insult, curse or profanity and the verb 하다, meaning to do.
Which one should you use?
There is a clear distinction between the two types of cursing in Korean. Use 욕하다 when referring to the act of using offensive language or swearing. In contrast, use 저주하다 when you mean to cast a supernatural curse or to hex someone or to wish misfortune upon them.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of 욕하다 is 욕했다. You may also see the phrase 욕을 하다 욕설하다 used to express the same concept.
How do you pronounce it?
yokhada
Did you know?
- In a charming cultural twist, an old woman who swears at her customers is called a 욕쟁이 할머니. In many traditional restaurants, this aggressive language is actually perceived as a sign of warmth and close intimacy.
- The word 욕 originates from the Chinese character 辱, which means 'shame' or 'humiliation'. This reveals that Korean cursing is historically rooted in the act of shaming someone rather than just using forbidden words.
- In Korea, the phrase 욕을 먹다 ('to eat insults') is often used to describe a situation where someone is being criticized or badmouthed by others behind their back, even if no one is swearing directly to their face.
Examples in context
- 친구에게 욕하다가 걸렸어요.chinguege yokhadaga geollyeosseoyo.I got caught cursing at my friend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “curse” translations and entries 욕하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 욕하다, 하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
