발가락
balgarak[pa̠ɭk͈a̠ɾa̠k̚]
The Korean word for toes is 발가락 (balgarak). It names the five digits on each human foot and is the standard term in both everyday and formal speech.
발가락 is used for one toe or for several toes, since Korean often leaves the plural unmarked.
What does it mean word for word?
발가락 is a compound of 발 (foot) and 가락, a word for a long, thin object or digit.
How does it change in a sentence?
Korean often omits plural markers, but you can add 들 to get 발가락들 when you want to make clear that you mean several toes.
How do you pronounce it?
발가락 is romanized as balgarak.
Did you know?
- The strong 'k' sound in 가락 is the result of a hidden genitive marker -ㅅ- that existed in Middle Korean to connect 'foot' and 'strand'.
- The word for 'toes' uses a root that can also describe a 'strand' of thread or a 'sliver' of wood. This implies that, linguistically, toes are viewed as thin, elongated pieces attached to the foot.
- While 발가락 refers to the toes, the word for 'finger' is 손가락 (songarak), using the same 가락 root paired with 손 ('hand').
Examples in context
- 발가락에 감각이 없다.I can't feel my toes.발가락에 adds a location marker, so the sentence says there is no feeling in the toes.Tatoeba #11106534 by intertime, translation #1951596 by CK
- 아기들은 자기 발가락을 빠는 경향이 있다.Babies tend to suck on their toes.발가락을 marks the toes as the object that babies suck on.
- 나는 발가락을 다친 것 같아요.I think I hurt my toes.
- 오늘은 발끝이 차가워요.My toes are cold today.
Example conversation
Minji and Hyunwoo are relaxing at home.
- 민지 Min-ji현우 씨, 발가락 간지러워요?Hyeon-u ssi, balgarak ganjireowoyo?Hyunwoo, do your toes itch?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 갑자기 발가락이 가렵네요.ne, gapjagi balgaragi garyeopneyo.Yes, my toes suddenly feel itchy.
- 민지 Min-ji제가 긁어 줄까요?jega geulgeo julkayo?Shall I scratch them for you?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니요, 제가 할게요.aniyo, jega halkeyo.No, I'll do it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 발가락, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 발가락, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
