스마트폰
seumateupon[sʰɯma̠tʰɯpʰo̞n]
The Korean word for "smartphone" is 스마트폰 (seumateupon).
스마트폰 is used to refer to a smartphone. If you want to refer more generally to mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, you can use the expression 모바일.
Meaning: electronic handheld device (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
스마트폰 is a transliteration of the English word "smartphone" using the Korean phonetic system.
Which one should you use?
In casual conversation, people often shorten 스마트폰 to just 폰. Additionally, 핸폰 is an abbreviated form of 핸드폰 used informally among friends and family.
How do you pronounce it?
seumateupon
Did you know?
- In South Korea, the cultural phenomenon of 'smartphone addiction' is so recognized that the government has promoted a 'digital detox' movement using the term 디지털 디톡스.
- While 스마트폰 is the standard term, many Koreans still use 핸드폰, which comes from 'hand phone', a common Konglish term that persists even though smartphones are not strictly 'hand phones'.
- Because the Korean alphabet is written in blocks, the word 스마트폰 is visually divided into four distinct syllables despite being a single English word.
Examples in context
- 오늘 세일에서 스마트폰을 샀어요.I bought a smartphone on sale today.
- 새 스마트폰을 샀어요.sae seumateuponeul sasseoyo.I bought a new smartphone.
- 제 스마트폰이 고장 났어요.je seumateuponi gojang nasseoyo.My smartphone is broken.
- 스마트폰을 가방에 넣으세요.seumateuponeul gabange neouseyo.Please put the smartphone in the bag.
Example conversation
Hyun-woo and Ji-eun are talking about a new gadget.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은 씨, 스마트폰 바꿨어요?Ji-eun ssi, seumateupon bakkwoss-eoyo?Ji-eun, did you get a new smartphone?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 어제 샀어요.ne, eo-je sass-eoyo.Yes, I bought it yesterday.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말 예쁘네요!jeong-mal yeppune-yo!It is really pretty!
- 지은 Ji-eun고마워요, 현우 씨.gomawo-yo, Hyun-woo ssi.Thank you, Hyun-woo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smartphone” translations and entries 스마트폰, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
