몽골
Monggol[mo̞ŋɡo̞ɭ]
The English phrase "Mongolia" is translated into Korean as 몽골 (Monggol). Wiktionary also lists 몽고 (Monggo).
Meaning: East Asian country (name)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 몽골 | Monggol | [mo̞ŋɡo̞ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 몽고 | Monggo | [mo̞ŋɡo̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
몽골 is the name used for the East Asian country of Mongolia.
Which one should you use?
While 몽고 (Monggo) was used in the past, 몽골 (Monggol) is the standard and preferred term used today.
How do you pronounce it?
Monggol
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might use 몽고 because it sounds similar to 'Mongolia', but it is considered an outdated and potentially insensitive term in modern Korean.
Did you know?
- Using 몽고 instead of 몽골 can evoke the era of Japanese colonization, as the Japanese used the Sino-Korean term to refer to the region.
- While 몽골 is the standard name for the country, the term 몽고 is still used in medical contexts, such as in the term 몽고반점 (Monggo-banjeom) for a newborn's 'Mongolian spot'.
- The word 몽골 is a direct phonetic borrowing from the Mongolian word Монгол, rather than a translation through another language.
Examples in context
- 저는 몽골에 가보고 싶어요.I want to visit Mongolia.
- 몽골음식을 먹어 본 적이 있나요?Have you ever tried Mongolian food?
- 친구가 몽고에 살고 있어요.My friend lives in Mongolia.
- 몽골은 아주 넓은 나라예요.Mong-gol-eun a-ju neol-beun na-ra-ye-yo.Mongolia is a very large country.
- 저는 작년에 몽골에 다녀왔어요.Jeo-neun jak-nyeon-e Mong-gol-e da-nye-wa-sseo-yo.I went to Mongolia last year.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Hyunwoo are discussing their dream vacation destinations.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 이번 휴가에 어디 가고 싶어요?Hyeon-u ssi, ibeon hyuga-e eodi gago sipeoyo?Hyunwoo, where do you want to go on this vacation?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저는 몽골에 가서 별을 보고 싶어요.Jeonun Monggol-e gaseo byeoreul bogo sipeoyo.I want to go to Mongolia and see the stars.
- 서연 Seo-yeon와, 몽골은 정말 낭만적이겠네요!Wa, Monggol-eun jeongmal nangman-jeogigenneyo!Wow, Mongolia would be so romantic!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo맞아요. 같이 갈래요?Majayo. Gachi gallaeyo?Right. Do you want to go together?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mongolia” translations and entries 몽골, 몽고, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 몽고, 몽골, CC BY-SA 4.0.
