현대
hyeondae[ˈçɘ(ː)ndɛ]
현대 (hyeondae) is the Korean word for a car manufactured by the Hyundai Motor Group.
The term is used to refer to the specific brand of automobiles produced by the Hyundai Motor Group.
Meaning: car manufactured by the Hyundai Motor Group (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The name 현대 literally means 'modernity' or 'contemporary'.
How do you pronounce it?
hyeondae
Did you know?
- In a Korean sentence, if you simply say you are interested in 현대, people might ask if you are studying modern history rather than car manufacturing.
- The company name 현대 is shared by a massive conglomerate that builds everything from skyscrapers to giant cargo ships, not just cars.
- The name is composed of two Hanja characters, where 현 (現) signifies 'appearance' or 'to manifest' and 대 (代) signifies 'generation' or 'era'.
Examples in context
- 저는 현대 자동차를 좋아합니다.I like Hyundai cars.
- 현대 자동차는 아주 유명해요.hyeondae jadongcha-neun aju yumyeonghaeyo.Hyundai cars are very famous.
- 새로 산 현대 차가 마음에 들어요.saero san hyeondae chaga maeume deureoyo.I like the new Hyundai car I bought.
- 이것은 현대의 신모델이에요.igeoseun hyeondae-ui sinmodel-ieyo.This is a new Hyundai model.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about cars in a parking lot.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지 씨, 차 새로 샀어요?minji ssi, cha saero sasseoyo?Minji, did you buy a new car?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 현대 차로 샀어요.ne, hyeondae charo sasseoyo.Yes, I bought a Hyundai.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo현대 차가 정말 좋죠.hyeondae chaga jeongmal jochyo.Hyundai cars are really great.
- 민지 Min-ji맞아요, 아주 만족해요.majayo, aju manjokhaeyo.That's true, I'm very satisfied.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 현대, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 현대, CC BY-SA 4.0.
