제비꽃
jebikkot[t͡ɕe̞bik͈o̞t̚]
The Korean word for violet is 제비꽃 (jebikkot).
제비꽃 refers specifically to the violet flower. If you wish to describe the actual color violet rather than the plant, use the term 제비꽃색.
Meaning: colour (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 제비꽃 is a compound of 제비, meaning swallow bird and 꽃, meaning flower, literally translating to 'swallow flower'.
Which one should you use?
While 제비꽃 is the name for the violet flower, the standard term used to describe the color violet or purple is 보라색. To specify the color violet using the plant name, you can use 제비꽃색 by adding the suffix '-색' (color).
How do you pronounce it?
jebikkot
Did you know?
- The word 보라 (bora) can also be an imperative form of the verb 'to look' or 'to see', which can lead to puns in Korean songs and poetry.
- In Korean folklore, the 제비 (swallow) is often depicted as a grateful bird that returns favors to humans, which adds a layer of benevolent meaning to the name of the 제비꽃 (violet).
- In Korean poetry, the appearance of the 제비꽃 (violet) is often used as a metaphor for modesty and humble beauty due to the flower's small size and low growth.
Examples in context
- 보라색은 여운이 있는 색상입니다.Violet is a color with a lingering effect.
- 나는 바이올렛 색깔을 너무 좋아해.I really like the color violet.
- 그 카페는 바이올렛으로 장식되어 있어.That café is decorated in violet.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Minji are looking at a color palette for a project.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo어떤 색이 가장 마음에 들어요?eotteon saegi gajang maeume deureoyo?Which color do you like the most?
- 민지 Min-ji저는 이 제비꽃 색이 좋아요.jeoneun i jebikkot saegi joayo.I like this violet color.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저도 그 색이 아주 좋아요.jeodo geu saegi aju joayo.I like that color very much too.
- 민지 Min-ji그럼 이걸로 결정해요.geureom igeollo gyeoljeonghaeyo.Then let's decide on this one.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 제비꽃, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
