What does 맛있어요 (masisseoyo) mean?
- 맛있어요masisseoyo
It's delicious
Polite: safe with most people
맛있어요 (masisseoyo) means "it's delicious" or "it tastes good" in Korean. It is the polite form, so you can say it to anyone, from a restaurant owner to a friend's parents. With a rising tone, 맛있어요? asks "Is it good?"
Where it comes from
맛 means taste or flavor and 있어요 means "there is" or "has." So it literally says "it has taste," which in Korean means it tastes good. The opposite is 맛없어요 (madeopseoyo), "it has no taste," meaning it's not good.
How to use 맛있어요
Koreans say it a lot while eating, especially to the person who cooked or paid. Telling a host 정말 맛있어요 is a kind and expected compliment.
With friends, drop the 요 and say 맛있어. 맛있다! (plain form) is what people often say to themselves after the first bite.
Learners sometimes say 맛있어요 about a person, but it only describes food and drink. For a good-looking person, use 멋있어요 (cool) or 예뻐요 (pretty).
Examples
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Taking the first bite at a friend's home
Asking a friend about their dish
Complimenting a grandmother's cooking
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 맛있어 | It's good | Casual, for friends and family. |
| 맛있다 | Delicious! | Plain form, often said to yourself. |
| 맛있습니다 | It's delicious | Formal, for speeches or very polite settings. |
| 맛없어요 | It's not good | The opposite; say it gently. |
| 맛있게 드세요 | Enjoy your meal | What staff or hosts say when serving food. |
Questions learners ask
How do you pronounce masisseoyo?
Most people say it like "ma-shi-sseo-yo." The ㅅ before ㅣ sounds close to "sh," which is why many people spell it mashisoyo.
How do you say "it's not delicious" in Korean?
Say 맛없어요 (madeopseoyo). It can sound blunt, so people often soften it with 좀 별로예요 (it's not great).
What do you say after a meal in Korean?
Say 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida), "I ate well," to thank the cook or whoever paid.