놀다
nolda[ˈno̞(ː)ɭda̠]
The English verb "play" can be translated into Korean as 놀다 (nolda).
놀다 means to act in a manner such that one has fun. While it can refer to children playing, it is frequently used colloquially to mean hanging out or spending time with friends.
Meaning: act in a manner such that one has fun (verb)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite present tense form of 놀다 is 놀아요. To express the past tense politely, use 놀았어요.
How do you pronounce it?
nolda
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be aware that depending on the context, 놀다 can also mean to be unemployed or to be idle.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'play' for instruments or sports, 놀다 is never used this way. To play a guitar or play soccer, Koreans use different verbs such as 하다 or 켜다.
- If someone is described as 노는 물이 다르다, it literally means 'the water they play in is different'. It is an idiom used to say someone hangs out with a different social class.
- The Middle Korean form of this word, recorded in 1447, was pronounced with a distinct lateral sound that has evolved over centuries.
Examples in context
- 대학교 동창들과 축구를 한 후에 카페에서 한잔하며 편안하게 놀고 왔어요.After playing soccer with my college friends, we came to a café and relaxed over a cup of coffee.
- 오늘은 함께 공원에서 놀아요.Let's play together at the park today.
- 친구와 놀다.chin-gu-wa nol-da.To play with a friend.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Hyunwoo meet at school.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 오늘 같이 놀다 가요.Hyeon-u ssi, oneul gat-i nolda gayo.Hyunwoo, let's hang out together today.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo좋아요. 어디에서 놀까요?jo-ayo. eodieseo nolkkayo?Sounds good. Where shall we play?
- 서연 Seo-yeon공원에서 놀아요.gong-woneseo norayo.Let's play at the park.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 공원에서 만나요.ne, gong-woneseo mannayo.Yes, let's meet at the park.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “play” translations and entries 놀다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 놀다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
