멜론
mellon[me̞ɭɭo̞n]South Korean
The English word "melon" is translated into Korean as 멜론 (mellon). Wiktionary also lists 메론 (meron) and 향참외 (hyangchamoe).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 멜론 | mellon | [me̞ɭɭo̞n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | South Korean |
| 메론 | meron | South Korean | |
| 향참외 | hyangchamoe | [ça̠ŋt͡ɕʰa̠mwe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ça̠ŋt͡ɕʰa̠mø̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
North Korea |
The word refers to the fruit known as a melon.
Which one should you use?
In South Korea, 멜론 is the standard spelling. However, you will frequently see the alternative spelling 메론 used in common practice.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In North Korea, the term 향참외 is used. In South Korea, the forms 멜론 and 메론 are used.
How do you pronounce it?
mellon
Did you know?
- In Korea, melons are frequently given as high-end luxury gifts in beautifully wrapped boxes, often costing much more than they would in a supermarket.
- While 멜론 is a direct loanword from English, the North Korean term 향참외 uses the character 향 meaning 'fragrant' to describe the fruit's scent.
- In South Korea, the word 참외 refers to a specific type of oriental melon, which is a very common fruit, whereas 멜론 specifically refers to western-style melons.
Examples in context
- 메론 좋아해?Do you like melons?
- 아, 이 메론 진짜 맛있어!Ah, this melon is really delicious!
- 멜론이 정말 달아요.melloni jeongmal darayo.The melon is really sweet.
- 마트에서 멜론을 샀어요.matueseo melloneul sasseoyo.I bought a melon at the mart.
- 이 멜론은 얼마예요?i melloneun eolmayeyo?How much is this melon?
Example conversation
Minji and Minjun are deciding what fruit to eat after dinner.
- 민지 Min-ji디저트로 멜론 먹을까요?dijeoteuro mellon meogeulkkayo?Shall we eat melon for dessert?
- 민준 Min-jun좋아요, 민지 씨.joayo, Minji ssi.That sounds good, Minji.
- 민지 Min-ji냉장고에 멜론이 있어요.naengjanggo-e melloni isseoyo.There is a melon in the refrigerator.
- 민준 Min-jun제가 꺼내올게요.jega kkeonaeolgeyo.I will go get it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “melon” translations and entries 멜론, 향참외, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 멜론, 향참외, CC BY-SA 4.0.
