Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 글라스 | geullaseu | [kɯɭɭa̠s͈ɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 잔 | jan | [t͡ɕa̠n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 컵 | keop | [kʰʌ̹p̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 고뿌 | goppu | [ko̞p͈u] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | North Korea, dated |
The term 잔 is the standard way to refer to a drinking vessel or a specific measure of a liquid, such as a small amount or one cup of something. In contrast, 컵 is a loanword used for general-purpose vessels like coffee mugs or plastic cups. 글라스 is a loanword from English often used in specialized contexts like cocktail menus or when describing specific types of glassware.
Which one should you use?
While 글라스 is a loanword from English, 잔 is the standard, native-derived term used for almost any drinking vessel or a specific measure of a drink. 컵 is the loanword for 'cup' and is typically used for general-purpose vessels like coffee mugs or plastic cups, whereas 잔 is more common when referring to the liquid content or the act of drinking. 글라스 is primarily used in specific contexts like cocktail menus or when describing the physical material or type of glassware rather than in casual daily conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
고뿌 is a dated term used in North Korea to refer to a cup or glass.
How do you pronounce it?
geullaseu
Did you know?
- The word 고뿌 is not a direct loan from English but came through Japanese, which had borrowed the word 'kop' from Dutch.
- In Korean social settings, it is a sign of respect to turn one's head away from an elder when drinking from a 잔.
- The term 잔 functions as a counter, meaning that instead of saying 'one glass', Koreans say 'water one 잔', treating the vessel as a unit of measurement.
Examples in context
- 맥주 한 잔 어때요?What about a glass of beer?This sentence is useful for suggesting a drink using the counter 잔.Tatoeba #11106416 by intertime, translation #34838 by CK
- 빨대를 물이 담긴 잔에 넣으면 눈으로 쉽게 확인 할 수 있다.You can see this easily if you put a straw into a glass of water.This sentence shows how to use the counter 잔 when describing an object in a glass of water.Tatoeba #3604065 by cueyayotl, translation #61101 by sundown
- 그녀는 고급 진과 토닉 한 잔은 여름과도 같다고 했다, 그리고 그것은 나에게 진실함을 느끼게 해주었다.She said that a good gin and tonic is like summertime in a glass, and it struck me as being too true.This sentence illustrates the use of the counter 잔 in a descriptive context regarding a drink.Tatoeba #3604051 by cueyayotl, translation #896178 by pauldhunt
Example conversation
Minji and Hyunwoo are looking at glassware in a home goods store.
- 민지 Min-ji이 와인 글라스 정말 예쁘네요.i wain geullaseu jeongmal yeppeuneyo.This wine glass is really pretty.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo맞아요. 디자인이 아주 세련됐어요.majayo. dijaini aju seryeondwaesseoyo.You're right. The design is very sophisticated.
- 민지 Min-ji현우 씨는 어떤 글라스 좋아하세요?hyeon-u ssineun eotteon geullaseu joahaseyo?Hyunwoo, what kind of glass do you like?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저는 심플한 스타일이 좋아요.jeoneun simpeulhan seutaili joayo.I like a simple style.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “glass” translations and entries 글라스, 잔, 컵, 고뿌, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 고뿌, 글라스, 잔, 컵, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
