셀레늄
sellenyum[sʰe̞ɭɭe̞ɲum]
The English word selenium is translated into Korean as 셀레늄 (sellenyum). Wiktionary also lists 셀렌 (sellen).
Meaning: chemical element (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 셀레늄 | sellenyum | [sʰe̞ɭɭe̞ɲum] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 셀렌 | sellen |
This term refers to the chemical element selenium.
Which one should you use?
셀레늄 is the formal term for the element, while 셀렌 is an alternative way to refer to it.
How do you pronounce it?
sellenyum
Did you know?
- Because the syllables 셀레 sound similar to the root of the word 설레다 ('to be fluttered' or 'excited'), some creative Korean advertisements use 셀레늄 in puns about heart-fluttering health.
- In Korean health and beauty marketing, 셀레늄 is frequently grouped with 'antioxidants' (항산화제), making it a buzzword for anti-aging products rather than just a chemical element.
- The Korean term 셀레늄 is a phonetic transliteration of the English word 'selenium' rather than a native Korean word or a Hanja-based term.
Examples in context
- 셀레늄은 화학 요소의 하나로 알려져 있다.Selenium is known as one of the chemical elements.
- 어제 셀레니움에 대해 논의했어.We discussed selenium yesterday.
- 셀레늄은 화학 원소로 알려져 있습니다.Selenium is known as a chemical element.
- 제가 셀레니움에 대해 더 알아봐야 할 것 같습니다.I think I should learn more about selenium.
- 셀레늄은 주기율표에 있는 원소입니다.selenyumeun jugiyulpyoe e inneun wonsoimnida.Selenium is an element in the periodic table.
- 이 영양제에는 셀레늄이 들어 있어요.i yeongyangje-eneun selenyumi deureo isseoyo.This supplement contains selenium.
- 셀레늄 수치를 확인해야 해요.selenyum suchireul hwaginhaeya haeyo.I need to check my selenium levels.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Dohyun are talking about health supplements at home.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 평소에 셀레늄 챙겨 먹어요?Dohyun ssi, pyeongso-e sellenyum chaenggyeomeogeoyo?Dohyun, do you usually take selenium?
- 도현 Do-hyeon아니요, 셀레늄이 어디에 좋나요?aniyo, sellenyumi eodie jonayo?No, what is selenium good for?
- 서연 Seo-yeon항산화 작용에 아주 중요하다고 해요.hangsanhwa jagyong-e aju jungyohadago haeyo.They say it's very important for antioxidant action.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그렇군요. 저도 한번 알아봐야겠어요.geureokunyo. jeodo hanbeon arabwayagess-eoyo.I see. I should look into it too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “selenium” translations and entries 셀레늄, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 셀레늄, CC BY-SA 4.0.
