장어
jang'eo[t͡ɕa̠ŋʌ̹]
The Korean word for eel is 장어 (jang'eo).
The word 장어 is used to refer to any fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes.
Meaning: any fish of the order Anguilliformes (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 장어 is the general term, 뱀장어 is a more specific and formal term used to refer specifically to freshwater eels.
How do you pronounce it?
jang'eo
Did you know?
- In Korea, 장어 is widely believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac and a source of stamina, often eaten specifically to boost energy.
- The word 어 at the end of 장어 acts as a suffix for fish, meaning you can identify many different fish species just by looking for this character in their names.
- Certain regions in Korea prepare 장어 as a porridge or soup, which is viewed more as a medicinal restorative than a casual meal.
Examples in context
- 한국에서 장어 요리는 매우 인기가 있습니다.In Korea, eel dishes are very popular.
- 장어가 정말 맛있어요.jangeoga jeongmal masisseoyo.The eel is really delicious.
- 생선 가게에서 장어를 샀어요.saengseon gageseo jangeoreul sasseoyo.I bought an eel at the fish market.
- 장어 요리는 보양식으로 유명해요.jangeo yorineun boyangsigeuro yumyeonghaeyo.Eel dishes are famous as health food.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Subin are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 지훈 Ji-hun오늘 저녁에 장어 먹을까요?oneul jeonyeoge jangeo meogeulkkayo?Shall we eat eel for dinner tonight?
- 수빈 Su-bin좋아요, 지훈 씨가 추천해 주세요.joayo, Jihoon ssi ga chucheonhae juseyo.That sounds good, please give me a recommendation, Jihoon.
- 지훈 Ji-hun근처에 맛있는 식당이 있어요.geuncheoe masinneun sikdangi isseoyo.There is a delicious restaurant nearby.
- 수빈 Su-bin거기로 지금 바로 가요.geogiro jigeum baro gayo.Let's go there right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eel” translations and entries 장어, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
