Fruits, Nuts, Vegetables in Korean

Ready to learn the names of fruits in Korean? We will cover those, as well as the Korean names for vegetables and nuts.

We’re going to cover the most important words you should learn first, as well as give you some example sentences so you can put them to use.

These words are going to be a key part of your plan if you’re learning Korean or have an interest in Korean culture. The good news is, you already know a lot of these words (we’ll explain how).

That means this lesson is going to be a breeze. Let’s get to it!

Below is a free PDF guide that you can download and take with you:

As we cover the Korean fruits, vegetables, and nut vocabulary words, you’ll notice that they’re written in both Hangeul (Korean Alphabet) and in English. The English spelling is just an approximation of the sounds. Your pronunciation will improve significantly if you learn the Korean Alphabet.

Grab your free guide here and learn Korean in about 1 hour.

Fruits in Korean

Here is a list of fruits in Korean. Keep in mind that some of the fruit names will sound very similar to the English word. For example, 레몬 (remon | lemon) sounds just like “lemon”. That’s the beautify of Konglish and Korean loan words: You already know them!

If you’re craving freshly squeezed fruit ades while in South Korea, knowing these terms will help. Let’s start off with the word for fruit.

Fruit in Korean

The word for fruit in Korean is 과일 (gwail). Fruits are categorized in different kinds below.

Berry Fruits

Next, we’ll cover some of the berry fruits. Most of these fruits sound like their English counterparts, except for strawberries and raspberries. Both of those words have Korean double consonants, so make sure you pronounce them correctly.

Strawberry in Korean

The word for strawberry in Korean is 딸기 (ttalgi). If you like fresh whole strawberries, there are plenty of areas in South Korea where you can go strawberry picking.

Citrus Fruits

Here are some of the citrus fruits which are known to have plenty of health benefits. The word for “orange” the fruit can also be used for the color. Go here for the complete list of colors in Korean.

Other Fruits

And now for the remainder of the fruits. If you want an easy way to remember the Korean word for “apple”, there’s a Korean joke about it that makes it hard to forget.

 

Banana in Korean

In Korean, this fruit is still called as 바나나 (banana). Remembering it is easy as it is pronounced the same way as its English word. There’s also a famous banana-flavored drink called Banana Milk (바나나맛 우유 | bananamat uyu). A sweet flavor that is an ultimate must-try!

Peach in Korean

The word for peach in Korean is 복숭아 (boksunga). If you’re familiar with Kakaotalk, one character named Apeach (어피치) was created based on the peach fruit. Peaches are seasonal fruits that are popular during summer.

Pear in Korean

The Korean word for pear is 배 (bae). The same term is also used Korean pears, Korean snow pears, or Korean apples.

Pineapple in Korean

Pineapple in Korean which sounds very similar to its English counterpart is called 파인애플 (painaepeul). This tropical fruit is known to be a great source of Vitamin C!

Sample Sentence:

제가 가장 좋아하는 과일은 파인애플이에요 (Jega gajang joahaneun gwaireun painaepeurieyo)

My favorite fruit is pineapple.

Watermelon in Korean

The Korean word for watermelon is 수박 (subak). This huge fruit is typically sliced and shared by many, especially during summer in South Korea. This is different from Korean yellow musk melons or 참외 (chamoe).

Sample Sentence:

수박을 몇 조각 먹을래요? (subageul myeot jogak meogeullaeyo?)

How many slices of watermelon do you want to eat?

Now that you know the fruit names in Korean, let’s cover the Korean vegetables.

Vegetables in Korean

Food plays an important role in Korean culture. This cuisine includes vegetables in most recipes too, so if you’re interested in Korean food, learning this vocabulary is essential.

Vegetable in Korean

Before we learn the terms for different vegetables in Korean, let’s start with “vegetable” first. The word for vegetable in Korean is 야채 (yachae).

 

Pumpkin in Korean

The word pumpkin in Korean is 호박 (hobak). This vegetable is often used to make porridge or soup by Koreans. 호박죽 (hobakjuk) is used to call pumpkin porridge while 단호박죽 (danhobakjuk) is used to call sweet pumpkin porridge.

Carrot in Korean

Carrot in Korean is called 당근 (danggeun). The same term is used as a Korean slang to say “of course” which is 당연하지 (dangyeonhaji) since they sound very similar.

Nuts in Korean

 

Example Sentences

Want to know how you can use these fruits, vegetables, and nuts in everyday Korean conversation? Below are some more excellent examples.

Use these sentences to practice speaking and reading. You can substitute the words above to practice the vocabulary, or add in some Korean phrases to the mix. They’re useful for understanding Korean grammar better. You might try combining sentences with Korean conjunctions, or try out your newfound Korean particle skills.

For example:

매일 아침에 오랜지주스를 마셔요. (maeil achime oraenjijuseureul masyeoyo.)

I drink orange juice every morning.

슈퍼에 갈때 오이를 3개 사 주세요. (syupeoe galttae oireul 3gae sa juseyo.)

Please buy 3 cucumbers when you go to the grocery store.

Now that you’ve learned all about Korean fruits, nuts, and vegetables, it’s time to start making sentences like the examples above! They’ll definitely come in handy if you’re living in Korea or plan on shopping at a Korean supermarket abroad. Perhaps you also plan to visit Korea or specific areas like Jeju Island for a taste of these Korean fruits and Korean vegetables!

What’s your favorite fruit? Is it a banana, orange, pineapple, or peach? Or maybe it’s a lemon or plum? Do you prefer citrus or tropical fruit? Show us your Korean fruit, vegetable, and nut skills in the comments below!

Picture Credit: Bigstock