맛있게 드세요
masitge deuseyo[ma̠ɕʰit̚k͈e̞ tɯsʰe̞jo]
The English phrase "enjoy your meal" is expressed in Korean as 맛있게 드세요 (masitge deuseyo).
This phrase is used to wish someone a pleasant dining experience before they begin eating.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 맛있게 (deliciously) and 드세요 (please eat, in a polite/honorific form).
Which one should you use?
While 맛있게 드세요 is used by a host or someone watching others eat to wish them enjoyment, the phrase 잘 먹겠습니다 (I will eat well) is used by the person who is about to eat to express gratitude for the meal.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 맛있게 드세요 is a polite way to say "enjoy your meal" and is appropriate for use with elders, customers or people you are not close with. Conversely, the casual version 맛있게 먹어 is used with close friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
masitge deuseyo
Did you know?
- If you are eating at someone's home, saying 맛있게 드세요 to your host might actually sound slightly rude or condescending, as it sounds like you are evaluating their cooking ability.
- The word 맛 in 맛있게 means 'taste', and it is used in various idioms to describe someone's personality as having a certain 'flavor' or charm.
- In traditional settings, the youngest person at the table typically waits for the oldest person to lift their spoon or chopsticks before they begin eating.
Examples in context
- 맛있게 드세요.Enjoy your meal!This example shows how to use the form 맛있게 드세요 to wish someone a pleasant meal.Tatoeba #13192781 by atitarev, translation #2370 by CK
- 준비했으니 맛있게 드세요.junbi-haesseuni masitge deuseyo.I prepared it, so please enjoy your meal.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A waiter serving a dish to a customer in a restaurant.
- 도현 Do-hyeon주문하신 음식 나왔습니다.jumunhasin eumsik nawasseumnida.Here is the food you ordered.
- 서연 Seo-yeon감사합니다.gamsahamnida.Thank you.
- 도현 Do-hyeon맛있게 드세요.masitge deuseyo.Enjoy your meal.
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 맛있겠네요!ne, masitgenneyo!Yes, it looks delicious!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 맛있게 드세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
