맛있게 드세요
masitge deuseyo[ma̠ɕʰit̚k͈e̞ tɯsʰe̞jo]
To say "enjoy the food" in Korean, use 맛있게 드세요 (masitge deuseyo).
맛있게 드세요 is a polite expression used to wish someone a pleasant meal before they start eating. This phrase is typically used by a host to a guest, or by a server to a customer, rather than by a person to themselves.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 맛있게 (deliciously) and 드세요 (please eat/consume).
Which one should you use?
While 맛있게 드세요 is the polite standard, you can use 맛있게 먹어 when speaking to close friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 드세요 is the honorific form of 먹다 (to eat), making this phrase appropriate for speaking to elders or superiors.
How do you pronounce it?
masitge deuseyo
When do people say it?
When someone says 맛있게 드세요 to you, a common polite response is 잘 먹겠습니다 (I will eat well). If you are the one about to begin a meal, you can use the formal phrase 잘 먹겠습니다 to mean "I will eat well."
Did you know?
- The verb 드시다 used in 드세요 is a 'suppletive' honorific, meaning it is a completely different word from the basic verb 먹다 rather than just a modified version.
- In traditional Korean etiquette, it is considered impolite to start eating before the eldest person at the table has taken their first bite, regardless of who says 맛있게 드세요.
- The word 맛 in 맛있게 means 'taste', but it is also used in Korean to describe the 'flavor' or 'soul' of a piece of music or a performance.
Examples in context
- 맛있게 드세요.masitge deuseyo.Enjoy your meal.
- 준비 다 됐어요. 맛있게 드세요!junbi da dwaesseoyo. masitge deuseyo!Everything is ready. Enjoy the food!
- 식사 맛있게 드세요, 손님.siksa masitge deuseyo, sonnim.Enjoy your meal, customer.
Example conversation
Minji serves dinner to Jihun at home.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨, 저녁 다 됐어요. 맛있게 드세요.Jihun ssi, jeonyeok da dwaesseoyo. Masissge deuseyo.Jihun, dinner is ready. Enjoy the food.
- 지훈 Ji-hun와, 정말 맛있어 보여요. 고마워요.Wa, jeongmal masisseo boyeoyo. Gomawoyo.Wow, it looks delicious. Thank you.
- 민지 Min-ji천천히 많이 드세요.Cheoncheonhi mani deuseyo.Please take your time and eat a lot.
- 지훈 Ji-hun잘 먹겠습니다!Jal meokgessumnida!I will eat well!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 맛있게 드세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
