How to say “Water” in Korean
- 물mul
water
"Water" in Korean is 물 (mul). To ask for some, say 물 좀 주세요 (mul jom juseyo), "Some water, please." It is one of the first words worth learning for eating out in Korea.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 물 mul | Any | The basic word for water. You can say it on its own with a questioning look and be understood. |
| 물 좀 주세요 mul jom juseyo | Polite | "Some water, please." 좀 softens the request and makes it sound friendlier. |
| 물 좀 줘 mul jom jwo | Casual | The same request to a friend or family member. |
| 생수 saengsu | Any | Bottled mineral water, the word you see in convenience stores. |
| 찬물 chanmul | Any | Cold water. Warm water is 따뜻한 물 (ttatteutan mul). |
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Asking a server at a restaurant
Staff at a casual restaurant
Shopping at a convenience store
Tips
Water is free in Korean restaurants. In many casual places it is self-service, and you will see a sign reading 물은 셀프 ("water is self-service") near a water machine and cups.
The ㄹ at the end of 물 sits between an English l and r. Keep it light and short so it doesn't sound like "mool-uh".
Korean tap water is treated and considered safe, but many people still drink filtered or bottled water at home.
Questions learners ask
Is water free at Korean restaurants?
Yes. It is almost always free, though you may need to fetch it yourself from a water dispenser.
How do you say cold water in Korean?
Cold water is 찬물 (chanmul). You can also say 시원한 물 (siwonhan mul), "nice cool water".