몽족
Mong-jok
The Korean word for "hmong" is 몽족 (Mong-jok). Wiktionary also lists 먀오족 (Myao-jok).
Meaning: people (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 몽족 | Mong-jok |
| 먀오족 | Myao-jok |
What does it mean word for word?
The suffix 족 means ethnic group or tribe.
Which one should you use?
몽족 is the standard Korean term for the Hmong people. In contrast, 먀오족 refers specifically to the Miao people, which is the term often used in a Chinese context, whereas 몽족 is the direct transliteration for Hmong.
How do you pronounce it?
Mong-jok
Did you know?
- The pronunciation of the first syllable in 몽족 sounds almost identical to the Korean word for 'dream', which is 몽 (夢). While the meanings are entirely different, the phonetic overlap is a common quirk in Korean vocabulary.
- In Korean news reports, you might see the term 몽족 written with the Hanja 苗族 to emphasize the historical connection to the Miao people. This allows readers to instantly recognize the ethnic group through Chinese characters.
- In Korean academic writing, 먀오족 is frequently used because much of the early anthropological research on these groups in Korea was based on Chinese sources.
Examples in context
- 너, 홍족 출신이지?Are you from the Hmong community?
- 학생들, 여러 가지 밀레니엄 개발 목표에 대해 토론해 봅시다. 온순한 홍족의 문화 및 가치에 대한 것도 포함해보세요.Let's discuss various Millennium Development Goals, including the culture and values of the gentle Hmong community.
- 몽족은 독특한 문화를 가지고 있어요.mongjog-eun dokteukhan munhwa-reul gajigo isseoyo.The Hmong people have a unique culture.
- 그는 몽족의 전통 의상을 입었어요.geuneun mongjog-ui jeontong uisang-eul ibeosseoyo.He wore traditional Hmong clothing.
- 몽족의 역사는 매우 오래되었습니다.mongjog-ui yeoksa-neun maeu oraedoeeotseumnida.The history of the Hmong people is very old.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a documentary in a cafe.
- 지훈 Ji-hun방금 몽족에 관한 다큐멘터리를 봤어요.banggeum mongjog-e gwanhan dakyumenteori-reul bwasseoyo.I just watched a documentary about the Hmong people.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 정말 흥미로운 내용이었나요?ji-hun ssi, jeongmal heungmi-roun naeyong-ieotnayo?Ji-hun, was the content really interesting?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 몽족의 생활 방식이 놀라웠어요.ne, mongjog-ui saenghwal bangsik-i nollawasseoyo.Yes, the Hmong people's way of life was amazing.
- 서연 Seo-yeon저도 나중에 꼭 보고 싶네요.jeodo najung-e kkok bogo sipneyo.I want to see it later too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hmong” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
