식초
sikcho[ɕʰik̚t͡ɕʰo̞]
The English word vinegar is 식초 (sikcho) in Korean. Wiktionary also lists 비네거 (binegeo).
Meaning: condiment (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 식초 | sikcho | [ɕʰik̚t͡ɕʰo̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 비네거 | binegeo | [pine̞ɡʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to the condiment used in cooking and food preparation.
Which one should you use?
식초 is the standard, native term used for all types of vinegar in everyday Korean. In contrast, 비네거 is a phonetic loanword used primarily in culinary contexts or when referring to specific Western-style vinegars, such as balsamic or apple cider vinegar, in modern recipes.
How do you pronounce it?
sikcho
Did you know?
- Korean beauty culture frequently uses diluted 식초 as a skin toner or hair rinse to balance pH levels.
- While 식초 is the general term, the loanword 비네거 often signals a 'premium' or 'imported' product to Korean consumers.
- The word 식초 is composed of two Chinese characters, where 식 means 'food' and 초 means 'vinegar'.
Examples in context
- 식초 주세요.Please give me some vinegar.
- 식초가 필요해요.sikcho-ga piryohaeyo.I need vinegar.
- 이 요리에는 식초를 넣으세요.i yori-eneun sikcho-reul neouseyo.Please put vinegar in this dish.
- 식초 맛이 너무 강해요.sikcho mat-i neomu ganghaeyo.The vinegar taste is too strong.
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are preparing a salad together.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우 씨, 식초 어디에 있어요?Hyeonu ssi, sikcho eodie isseoyo?Hyunwoo, where is the vinegar?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo찬장 두 번째 칸에 있어요.chanjang dubeonjjae kane isseoyo.It is on the second shelf of the cupboard.
- 수빈 Su-bin찾았어요. 식초를 조금만 넣을게요.chajasseoyo. sikchoreul jogeumman neoulgeyo.I found it. I will put in just a little vinegar.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 그렇게 하세요.ne, geureoke haseyo.Yes, please do that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vinegar” translations and entries 식초, 비네거, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 비네거, 식초, CC BY-SA 4.0.
