Cook in Korean – Useful words and vocabulary for the kitchen

As you learn Korean, all the words related to how to cook in Korean and the tools needed can be another fun lesson for you to tackle.

Cook in Korean

You might be in South Korea attending a cooking class or identifying the tools you need to use to cook dinner. Or perhaps you’re explaining how to make your favorite dishes when you’re in your home country. Either way, the following words you’ll learn will prove useful on many occasions and may help lessen your cooking time, too!

Let’s learn Korean through all the vocabulary for the tools, appliances, and utensils you’ll need when you cook, from the English language to Korean.

How to say “cook” in Korean

The word “cook” in English may have different definitions depending on whether it’s used as a verb or a noun in sentences. Here are their terms in Korean.

“Cook” in Korean (Noun)

If you’re pertaining to “cook” in Korean as a noun, you can say it as 요리 (yori). As a noun, it can also be said as 요리사 (yorisa), which means “chef.”

“Cook” in Korean (Verb)

The word for “cook” in Korean as a verb is 요리하다 (yorihada). This is made up of 2 words, which are 요리 (yori) and 하다 (hada), where 요리 (yori) means cook and 하다 (hada) is to do. 요리하다 (yorihada) can be translated as “to cook.”

Essential Kitchen Vocabulary in Korean

You may eat or cook in different cuisines like French, Japanese, Italian, German, Dutch, Danish, and the like. Each cuisine creates delicious meals using the tools listed. For now, we’ll focus on the Hangeul translation of each word in English below. This may also be useful and essential if you want to teach your friend how to cook your home country’s cuisine!

Kitchen tools. Cooking utensil and electric appliances for baking oven, mixer, scales, mincer. Home cookware in minimalist style vector set. Toaster, jar for water and glass, frying pan and saucepan

Korean Cookware Vocabulary

The term for “kitchenware” or “cookware” in Korean is 취사도구 (chwisadogu).

These are the common tools used to prepare and cook food.

EnglishKorean
Skillet (Frying Pan) (naembi)
(peuraipaen)
Braiser (beuheje)
Slicer
(seullaiseo)
Kitchen Scale (joriyong jeoul)
Mixing Bowl
(miksing bol)
Chopping Board, Cutting Board (doma)
Mandolin (mandollin)
Stock Pot (yuksu naembi)
Kettle (jujeonja)
Rubber Gloves (gomujanggap)
Food Container (yonggipojang),
(sikpum)
(bogwanyonggi)
Mortar and Pestle (makjasabalgwa makja),
(jeolguwa jeolgu gongi)
Stone Pot (dolsot)
Earthenware Pot (ttukbaegi)
Grinder (ganeun gigu)
Strainer, Colander (yeogwagi),
(georeugae),
(che)
Sauce Pan, Pot (naembi)
Sheet Pan (siteu paen)
Baking Dish (beiking jeopsi)
Can Opener (kaen opeuneo),
(kkangtongttagae)
Zester (kkeopjilbeotgigae)
Salad Spinner (chaeso talsu baguni),
(chaeso talsugi),
(chaesogeonjogi)
Wok (wok)
Saute Pan (sotepaen),
(bokkeumyong paen)
Grater (gangpan)

“Pot” in Korean

The word “pot” in Korean is 냄비 (naembi). This word also translates to “saucepan” in English.

There are also different types of pots that have other specific Korean terms. “Stock pot” in Korean is 육수 냄비 (yuksu naembi), “stone pot” in Korean is 돌솥(dolsot), while “earthenware pot” is called 뚝배기(ttukbaegi) in Korean.

“Wok” in Korean

“Wok” in Korean is 웍.

It sounds the same as its English counterpart (wok), so it’s easy to remember.

Icons of kitchen ware and utensils. Vector illustration

Korean Utensils Vocabulary

There are two ways to say “utensils” in Korean. You can say it as 밥그릇 (bapgeureut) or 기구 (gigu).

These handheld tools used to cook are ultimately important, from the preparation of food to dining.

EnglishKorean
Knife (kal)
Spatula (jugeok),
(dwijipgae)
Measuring Spoon (gyeryangseupun)
Rice Paddle (bapjugeok)
Scissors (gawi)
Measuring Cup (gyeryang keop)
Peeler (kkeopjil beotgineun kal)
Whisk (geopumgi)
Tongs (jipge)
Meat Tenderizer (yeonyukje)
Fork (pokeu)
Spoon (sutgarak),
(seupun)
Chopsticks (jeotgarak)

“Chopsticks” in Korean

You can say “chopsticks” or “a pair of chopsticks” in Korean as 젓가락 (jeotgarak). If you’re referring to wooden chopsticks, you can use the word 나무젓가락 (namujeotgarak). On the other hand,  “metal chopsticks” in Korean are called 금속 젓가락 (geumsok jeotgarak).

Kitchen Appliance flat icons set. Web sign kit of equipment. Electronics pictogram collection includes blender, juicer, gas. Simple kitchen cartoon colorful icon symbol isolated. Vector Illustration

Korean Kitchen Appliances Vocabulary

The term for “kitchen appliances” in Korean is 주방용품 (jubangyongpum).

These cooking appliances are most relevant to the actual cooking process.

EnglishKorean
Rice Cooker (bapsot)
Microwave (jeonjareinji)
Blender (bunswaegi),
(mikseogi)
Oven (obeun)
Stove (reinji)
Toaster (toseuteo)
Coffeemaker (keopimeikeo)
Fridge (naengjanggo)
Freezer (naengdonggo)
Electric Whisk (jeongi geopumgi)
Grill (geuril),
(seoksoe)
Gas Burner (gaseubeoneo)
Food Processor (manneung jori gigu)
Slow Cooker (jeongi jjimsot)

“Oven” in Korean

The Korean word for “oven” is 오븐 (obeun). However, if you’re referring to a microwave oven in Korean, you can say 전자레인지 (jeonjareinji).

“Rice cooker” in Korean

The word for “rice cooker” in Korean is 밥솥 (bapsot). This is a combination of the words 밥 (bap), which means rice, and 솥 (sot), which is a general term for pot.

“Grill” in Korean

There are two words that mean “grill” in Korean. You can say it as 그릴 (geuril) or 석쇠 (seoksoe).

Lastly, here are some Korean verbs related to cooking.

KoreanEnglish
넣다 (neota)To add
무치다 (muchidaTo add seasoning and mix
데치다 (dechida)To blanch
끓이다 (kkeurida)To boil
졸이다 (jorida)To boil down
삶다 (samda)To cook in boiling water
깨다 (kkaeda)To crack
자르다 (jareuda)To cut
잘라내다 (jallanaeda)To cut off
물기를 빼다 (mulgireul ppaeda)To drain
떨어뜨리다 (tteoreotteurida)To drop
튀기다 (twigida)To fry
갈다 (galda)To grate
부치다 (buchida)To griddle
갈다 (galda)To grind
데우다 (deuda)To heat up
반죽하다 (banjukada)To knead
재우다 (jaeuda)To marinate
으깨다 (eukkaeda)To mash
녹이다 (nogida)To melt
다지다 (dajida)To mince or finely chop
섞다 (seokda)
비비다 (bibida)
버무리다 (beomurida)
To mix
껍질을 벗기다 (kkeopjireul beotgida)To peel
붓다 (butda)To pour
헹구다 (hengguda)To rinse
굽다 (gupda)To roast, grill or bake
밀어서 펴다 (mireoseo pyeoda)To roll out
간을 맞추다 (ganeul matchuda)To season to taste
썰다 (sseolda)To slice or chop
불리다 (bullida)To soak
바르다 (bareuda)To spread
뿌리다 (ppurida)To sprinkle
짜다 (jjada)To squeeze
찌다 (jjida)To steam
뜸들이다 (tteumdeurida)To steam thoroughly
젓다 (jeotda)To stir
볶다 (bokda)To stir fry
맛보다 (matboda)
간보다 (ganboda)
To Taste
얇게 썰다 (yalge sseolda)To thinly slice
씻다 (ssitda)To wash
무게를 달다 (mugereul dalda)To weigh

Wrap Up

By learning these kitchen terms, you were also able to learn Korean in the process! Did we miss any essential cooking tools? Please let us know so we can add it to the list and teach you even more!

Which tools and appliances are your personal favorites to use when you cook dinner, lunch, or breakfast? And have you already searched with people you know from Korea about how many of the same items you have in your respective kitchens? Let us know your answers and examination results in the comments!

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14 thoughts on “Cook in Korean – Useful words and vocabulary for the kitchen”

  1. Is there another korean for

    Roast grill bake
    Or is it just 굽다

    Thank you For helping us ,by the way ,I am taking the 고용허가제
    Thats why I am learning korean

    It would also be nice if i learn all the native words of each and every korean words

    Not just their konglish equivalents
    If there even was one
    To begin with

  2. Wow.. thank you so much, it is a big help to me as a beginner in writing and reading korean language. But i was looking for a glass that is used to drink water. What would that be?

  3. Wow! Thanks so much. I’ll try those out, the Konglish words and the native-Korean ones.

    My Korean friend commented that _her_ favourite serving tool is a ladle (she has several.) What would that be in Korean?

    너무 고맙습니다!

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