숟가락
sutgarak[sʰut̚k͈a̠ɾa̠k̚]
The Korean word for spoon is 숟가락 (sutgarak). Wiktionary also lists 스푼 (seupun).
Meaning: scooped utensil for eating (or serving) (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 숟가락 | sutgarak | [sʰut̚k͈a̠ɾa̠k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 스푼 | seupun | [sʰɯpʰun] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
숟가락 refers to the utensil used for eating or serving food, specifically in the context of a traditional Korean meal where it is used alongside chopsticks. 스푼 is a loanword from English and is used in modern contexts, such as on cafe menus or when referring to Western-style utensils.
What does it mean word for word?
숟가락 is a compound of 숟 (a variant of 술, meaning spoon) and 가락 (meaning a long, thin object or stick).
Which one should you use?
숟가락 is the traditional/native Korean word, typically used for traditional Korean meals. In contrast, 스푼 is a loanword from English often found in modern settings.
How do you pronounce it?
sutgarak
When do people say it?
In a traditional Korean setting, 숟가락 specifically refers to the spoon used as part of a set with chopsticks (젓가락).
Did you know?
- The term 수저 describes a spoon and chopstick set, and it is also used as a metaphor for a person's socioeconomic status, such as being born with a 'gold spoon'.
- Traditionally, Korean 숟가락 were made of bronze, which was believed to detect poison in food by changing color.
- In traditional Korean table etiquette, one should not hold both the 숟가락 and chopsticks at the same time.
Examples in context
- 숟가락 집어.Grab a spoon.This sentence shows how to use 숟가락 when asking someone to grab a spoon.Tatoeba #8386259 by Eunhee, translation #2245529 by CK
- 숟가락 좀 빌려 줄래?Can you lend me a spoon?
- 숟가락이 하나 더 필요해요.sutgaragi hana deo piryohaeyo.I need one more spoon.
- 식탁 위에 숟가락을 놓아주세요.siktak wie sutgarageul noajuseyo.Please put the spoon on the table.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Minjun are setting the table for dinner.
- 서연 Seo-yeon민준 씨, 숟가락 좀 가져다줄래요?Minjun ssi, sutgarak jom gajyeodajullaeyo?Minjun, could you bring the spoons?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 지금 바로 가져올게요.ne, jigeum baro gajyeoolgeyo.Yes, I'll bring them right now.
- 서연 Seo-yeon젓가락도 같이 챙겨주세요.jeotgarakdo gat-i chaenggyeojuseyo.Please grab the chopsticks too.
- 민준 Min-jun알겠어요. 여기 있어요.algesseoyo. yeogi isseoyo.Got it. Here they are.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spoon” translations and entries 숟가락, 스푼, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
