선수
seonsu[ˈsʰɘ(ː)nsʰu]
The English word 'player' can be translated into Korean as 선수 (seonsu) or 플레이어.
Meaning: one who plays any game or sport (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 선수 | seonsu | [ˈsʰɘ(ː)nsʰu] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 플레이어 | peulleieo | [pʰɯɭɭe̞iʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
Both terms mean a person who plays a game or sport, but they are used in different contexts. 선수 is the standard term for an athlete or a professional in a sport. 플레이어 is a loanword typically used to refer to someone playing a video game or a user of digital media.
Which one should you use?
선수 is a traditional Sino-Korean word used for athletes or professional players in sports. In contrast, 플레이어 is a loanword used when referring to a gamer or a person using a media-playing device.
How do you pronounce it?
seonsu
Did you know?
- While 선수 refers to an athlete, if you call a person a 선수 in a metaphorical sense during a conversation, you might be teasing them for being a 'player' or a 'smooth talker' in a romantic context.
- The Sino-Korean term 선수 contains the character 手, which means 'hand'. This character is often used in Korean to denote a person with a specific skill or expertise, much like how 'hand' describes a 'handyman' in English.
- When referring to a person who plays a specific role in a movie or a play, Koreans use the word 배우 (bae-u) instead of any form of 'player'.
Examples in context
- 그는 훌륭한 테니스 선수이다.He's an excellent tennis player.This sentence is useful for describing someone as an excellent tennis 선수.Tatoeba #14030804 by Ldyhippo, translation #432847 by aliene
- 어떤 테니스 선수가 가장 좋아?Who's your favorite tennis player?This sentence is useful for asking about a favorite tennis 선수.Tatoeba #8363225 by Eunhee, translation #8045467 by CK
- 새미는 축구 선수였습니다.Sami was a football player.This sentence is useful for stating that someone was a football 선수.Tatoeba #7883367 by dalgarak, translation #7287900 by OsoHombre
Example conversation
A conversation between two friends about professional sports.
- 도현 Do-hyeon어떤 축구 선수를 제일 좋아해?eotteon chukgu seonsureul jeil joahae?Which soccer player do you like the most?
- 서연 Seo-yeon나는 저 한국인 선수가 좋아.naneun jeo hangugin seonsuga joa.I like that Korean player.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그 선수는 정말 빨라.geu seonsuneun jeongmal ppara.That player is really fast.
- 서연 Seo-yeon맞아, 정말 멋진 선수야.maja, jeongmal meotjin seonsuya.True, he is a really cool player.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “player” translations and entries 선수, 플레이어, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 선수, 플레이어, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
