Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 패거리 | paegeori | [pʰɛɡʌ̹ɾi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [pʰe̞ɡʌ̹ɾi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 조폭 | jopok | [t͡ɕo̞pʰo̞k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 갱 | gaeng | [kɛŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ke̞ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 폭력단 | pongnyeokdan | [pʰo̞ŋɲʌ̹k̚t͈a̠n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 갱단 | gaengdan | [kɛŋda̠n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ke̞ŋda̠n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The terms used for "gang" vary depending on whether you are referring to a specific criminal organization, a loanword or a derogatory group of people. 조폭 is a common slang term used in daily conversation and media to refer to gangsters or organized crime figures. 갱단 is a loanword used to describe a gang. 패거리 is used to describe a small, suspicious or unruly group of people and carries a strong derogatory nuance. In a more casual context, the word 무리 can be used to refer to a gang-like group.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term 폭력단 is composed of 폭력, meaning violence and 단, meaning a group or organization, literally translating to "violence group".
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the nuance you wish to convey: 조폭 is a colloquial abbreviation often used for individuals in organized crime, while 갱단 is a loanword directly derived from the English word "gang" combined with the Korean suffix -단. For a formal context, use 폭력단. If you want to express a negative or pejorative view of a suspicious clique or pack, use 패거리.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Seoul and the surrounding areas, the term 녀석들 is commonly used informally to mean "gang" or "guys".
How do you pronounce it?
paegeori
Did you know?
- The word 갱 can also be a Sino-Korean word meaning 'river' (江), making it a homophone for several entirely different concepts.
- The suffix -단 used in 갱단 and 폭력단 is a versatile building block in Korean used for any specialized group, from 'dance troupes' to 'expedition teams'.
- In Korean media and cinema, 조폭 is often used as a genre label for 'gangster movies', similar to how English uses 'mob movie'.
Examples in context
- 사미는 라이벌 갱단 소속이야.Sami is part of a rival gang.This sentence is useful for identifying membership in a 갱.Tatoeba #13756387 by qlTmalffk, translation #6100089 by OsoHombre
- 그들은 조직에 속해 있다.They belong to a gang.
- 동네에 무서운 패거리가 나타났다.dongne-e museoun paegori-ga natanatda.A scary gang appeared in the neighborhood.
Example conversation
Minji and Hyunwoo are talking about a movie they just watched.
- 민지 Min-ji영화 속의 패거리가 너무 무서웠어.yeonghwa sogui paeggeoriga neomu museowosseo.The gang in the movie was so scary.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo맞아, 그들은 정말 잔인하더라.maja, geudeureun jeongmal janinhadeora.Right, they were really cruel.
- 민지 Min-ji그런 패거리가 실제로 있으면 어떡해?geureon paeggeorigga siljero isseumyeon eotteokhae?What if a gang like that actually existed?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo빨리 경찰에 신고해야지.ppalli gyeongchare singohaeyaji.You should report it to the police quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gang” translations and entries 패거리, 조폭, 갱, 폭력단, 갱단, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 갱, 갱단, 조폭, 폭력단, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
