기름
gireum[kiɾɯm]
The Korean word for oil is 기름 (gireum).
The word 기름 is used broadly to refer to cooking oil, petroleum and any type of liquid fat or grease.
Meaning: liquid fat (noun)
Which one should you use?
When specifically referring to edible oil used for cooking, the term 식용유 is often used. When referring specifically to petroleum or crude oil in a technical or industrial context, the term 석유 is used instead of 기름.
How do you pronounce it?
gireum
Did you know?
- In Korean, the word 기름 is used to describe the high fat content of meat, such as the marbled fat in beef, rather than just the liquid oil in a bottle.
- The word 기름 first appeared in written records as early as 1103 in the 계림유사, a text documenting the customs of the Silla kingdom.
- The phrase 기름을 짜다 literally means 'to squeeze oil', referring to the traditional process of extracting oil from sesame or perilla seeds using a press.
Examples in context
- 기름 가격은 이번 주에 떨어졌다.The price of oil is down this week.This example shows how to discuss the price of 기름.Tatoeba #5526782 by raining211, translation #374801 by saeb
- 기름과 물은 혼합되지 않는다.Oil and water do not mix.This example shows the interaction between 기름 and water.Tatoeba #2655721 by KoreanBeaver, translation #2657221 by KoreanBeaver
- 저는 기름을 자동차에 넣었습니다.I put oil in the car.
- 기름을 사용하기 전에 잘 흔들어 주세요.Please shake the oil well before using.
- 오일을 부었어?Did you put oil on?
- 오일을 살 때 조심해.Be careful when buying oil.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun and Jieun are cooking together in the kitchen.
- 민준 Min-jun지은 씨, 요리할 때 기름이 얼마나 필요해요?ji-eun ssi, yo-ri-hal ttae gi-reum-i eol-ma-na pil-yo-hae-yo?Jieun, how much oil do we need for cooking?
- 지은 Ji-eun두 큰 술 정도면 충분해요.du keun sul jeong-do-myeon chung-bun-hae-yo.About two large spoons will be enough.
- 민준 Min-jun그럼 제가 기름을 부을게요.geu-reom je-ga gi-reum-eul bu-eul-ge-yo.Then I will pour the oil.
- 지은 Ji-eun고마워요, 민준 씨.go-ma-wo-yo, min-jun ssi.Thank you, Minjun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oil” translations and entries 기름, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 기름, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
