Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 호각 | hogak | [ˈɸʷo̞(ː)ɡa̠k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 호루라기 | horuragi | [ɸʷo̞ɾuɾa̠ɡi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 휘슬 | hwiseul | [hɥisʰɯɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [hysʰɯɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The nouns in this pack refer to a physical device used to make a whistling sound. If you want to express the action of a person making a whistling sound with their lips, you should use the verb phrase 휘파람을 불다.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the context: 호루라기 is the most common, everyday word used for whistles like those carried by police or referees. 호각 is a more formal or technical term often found in official or military contexts. 휘슬 is a loanword from English and is frequently used in sports, such as when referring to a 'penalty whistle'. Note that while these are devices, the word 휘파람 refers specifically to the sound made by a human whistling.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
hogak
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the nouns for the physical device to describe the action of a person whistling with their lips. Instead, use the verb phrase 휘파람을 불다.
Did you know?
- The Sino-Korean term 호각 (hogak) can also mean 'to compete' or 'to be evenly matched'. It is derived from the characters for 'two horns', implying two powerful forces clashing or matching one another.
- In some historical contexts, the term 호각 referred to actual horns made from animal horns used for military signaling, rather than the small metal devices used today.
- In Korea, the sound of a whistle is often transcribed as 삑 or 삐익. These onomatopoeic words are used in comics and texts to represent the sharp sound of a 호루라기.
Examples in context
- 심판이 호각을 불었어요.simpan-i hogak-eul bul-eoss-eo-yo.The referee blew the whistle.
- 호각 소리가 아주 커요.hogak sori-ga aju keo-yo.The whistle sound is very loud.
- 주머니에 작은 호각이 있어요.jumeoni-e jageun hogak-i iss-eo-yo.There is a small whistle in my pocket.
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Do-hyeon are preparing for a sports event.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현 씨, 호각 가져왔어요?do-hyeon ssi, ho-gak ga-jyeo-wass-eo-yo?Do-hyeon, did you bring the whistle?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 여기 있어요.ne, yeo-gi iss-eo-yo.Yes, here it is.
- 지은 Ji-eun잘됐네요. 이제 준비됐어요.jal-dwaet-ne-yo. i-je jun-bi-dwaet-eo-yo.That's great. Now we are ready.
- 도현 Do-hyeon경기 빨리 시작해요.gyeong-gi ppal-li si-jak-hae-yo.Let's start the game quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “whistle” translations and entries 호각, 호루라기, 휘슬, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 호각, 휘슬, CC BY-SA 4.0.
