뭐 먹었어요?
mwo meogeosseoyo?
In Korean, the phrase for "what did you eat?" is 뭐 먹었어요? (mwo meogeosseoyo?)
This phrase is used to ask someone about the food they consumed in the past.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 뭐 (what) and 먹었어요 (the past tense polite form of to eat).
Which one should you use?
You can use 어떤 음식을 드셨어요? or 오늘 뭐를 드셨어요? to ask the same question more formally. For casual settings, 뭐 먹었어? or 뭐 먹었냐? are used. In the Busan dialect, you might hear 뭐 먹었노?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
무엇을 드셨습니까? is a highly formal version used in professional settings or when addressing someone of much higher status. 어떤 음식을 드셨어요? and 오늘 뭐를 드셨어요? are also formal. For close friends or people younger than you, use the informal 뭐 먹었어?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Busan dialect, the phrase 뭐 먹었노? is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 먹었어요 uses the past tense suffix -었-, which is applied to the stem of the verb 먹다 (to eat).
How do you pronounce it?
mwo meogeosseoyo?
Did you know?
- The verb 먹다 (to eat) is used in Korean to describe 'taking' medicine, which is conceptually different from how English speakers use 'take'.
- In Korean culture, asking if someone has eaten is a traditional way to express care and affection, stemming from historical periods of food scarcity.
- In Korea, asking 밥 먹었어? or 'did you eat rice?' is often used as a way to say 'hello' or to show care, rather than a literal inquiry about a meal.
Examples in context
- 점심에 뭐 먹었어요?jeomsime mwo meogeosseoyo?What did you eat for lunch?
- 아까 뭐 먹었어요?akka mwo meogeosseoyo?What did you eat earlier?
- 어제 저녁에 뭐 먹었어요?eoje jeonyeoge mwo meogeosseoyo?What did you eat for dinner yesterday?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their day over a phone call.
- 도현 Do-hyeon서연 씨, 오늘 점심에 뭐 먹었어요?Seoyeon ssi, oneul jeomsime mwo meogeosseoyo?Seoyeon, what did you eat for lunch today?
- 서연 Seo-yeon저는 비빔밥 먹었어요.Jeoneun bibimbap meogeosseoyo.I ate bibimbap.
- 도현 Do-hyeon진짜 맛있었겠네요!Jinjja masisseotgenneyo!That must have been delicious!
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 정말 맛있었어요.Ne, jeongmal masisseosseoyo.Yes, it was really delicious.
