맛있다
masitda[ma̠ɕʰit̚t͈a̠]
In Korean, 'yummy' is expressed as 맛있다 (masitda). Wiktionary also lists 맛있는 (masinneun).
Meaning: delicious (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 맛있다 | masitda | [ma̠ɕʰit̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ma̠dit̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 맛있는 | masinneun |
The term is used to describe food that is delicious. To describe the opposite, food that is tasteless or lacks flavor, you would use 맛없다.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 맛있다 is composed of 맛, meaning 'taste' and 있다, meaning 'to exist' or 'to have'.
Which one should you use?
Use 맛있는 when you want to use 'delicious' as an adjective to modify a noun, such as 'delicious food'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word to modify a noun, use the form 맛있는. In spoken Korean, you should avoid using the dictionary form 맛있다 directly and instead use the polite form 맛있어요 when speaking to others.
How do you pronounce it?
masitda
When do people say it?
In an informal context, you might hear the phrase 맛집이다, which means 'It's a tasty place' and is used to describe a restaurant.
Did you know?
- While 맛있다 means 'delicious', Koreans often express the same sentiment by saying 시원하다, which literally means 'refreshing' or 'cool'. This is commonly used for hot soups or stews that feel comforting to the soul.
- Korean has a specific way of describing the 'taste' of things that are not food, such as 손맛 ('hand taste'), which refers to the unique flavor a skilled cook adds to a dish through their touch.
- To emphasize that food is exceptionally delicious, Koreans may use the slang term 꿀맛, which literally means 'honey taste'.
Examples in context
- 이 음식은 정말로 맛있습니다.This food is really delicious.
- 오뎅 맛있어!The fish cakes are yummy!
- 거기 라면집은 정말 맛집이야!That ramen place is a real gem!
- 배고파 죽겠다. 뭐든 맛있겠지.I'm so hungry! Anything will taste delicious.
- 이 음식 정말 맛있다!i eum-sik jeong-mal mas-it-da!This food is really delicious!
- 엄마가 만든 요리가 맛있다.eom-ma-ga man-deun yo-ri-ga mas-it-da.The food mom made is delicious.
- 정말 맛있다, 그치?jeong-mal mas-it-da, geu-chi?It's really yummy, right?
Example conversation
Subin and Jihun are eating at a new restaurant.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈아, 이거 진짜 맛있다!ji-hun-a, i-geo jin-jja mas-it-da!Jihun, this is really delicious!
- 지훈 Ji-hun맞아, 정말 맛있다.ma-ja, jeong-mal mas-it-da.Right, it's really yummy.
- 수빈 Su-bin너도 더 먹어봐.neo-do deo meok-eo-bwa.You should try more, too.
- 지훈 Ji-hun응, 고마워 수빈아.eung, go-ma-wo su-bin-a.Yeah, thanks Subin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yummy” translations and entries 맛있다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
