신발
sinbal[ɕʰinba̠ɭ]
The English word shoe is 신발 (sinbal) in Korean. Wiktionary also lists 신 (sin) and 슈즈 (syujeu).
Meaning: protective covering for the foot (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 신발 | sinbal | [ɕʰinba̠ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 신 | sin | [ɕʰin] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 슈즈 | syujeu | [ɕʰud͡ʑɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
신발 is a collective noun that can refer to a single shoe or a pair of shoes.
Which one should you use?
신발 is the standard, general term for footwear, whereas 신 is a more archaic or poetic form used in specific literary contexts or compound words. The term 슈즈 is the transliteration of the English word 'shoes'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
슈즈 is frequently used in fashion, retail and marketing contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
sinbal
Did you know?
- The syllable 신 is a homonym for many different words, including 'spirit', 'servant', 'trust', and even 'kidney'.
- Historically, the type of 신 a person wore indicated their social rank, with certain materials and colors reserved only for royalty.
- In traditional Korean culture, guests are expected to remove their 신발 before entering a home to keep the living space clean.
Examples in context
- 제 신발을 잃어버렸어요.I lost my shoes.
- 그 구두 어디서 샀어?Where did you buy those shoes?
- 새 신발이 정말 예뻐요.sae sinbari jeongmal yeppeoyo.The new shoes are really pretty.
- 신발을 신고 나가요.sinbareul singo nagayo.I put on my shoes and go out.
- 이 신발은 조금 작아요.i sinbareun jogeum jagayo.These shoes are a little small.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Jihun are at a shoe store.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 이 신발 어때요?Jihun ssi, i sinbal eottaeyo?Jihun, how are these shoes?
- 지훈 Ji-hun색깔이 아주 좋아요.saekkkari aju joayo.The color is very good.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그래요? 신발이 편해 보여요.geuraeyo? sinbari pyeonhae boyeoyo.Really? The shoes look comfortable.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그럼 한번 신어 보세요.geureom hanbeon sineo boseyo.Then please try them on.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shoe” translations and entries 신발, 신, 슈즈, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 신, 신발, CC BY-SA 4.0.
