What does 먹방 (mukbang) mean?
- 먹방mukbang
Eating show / broadcast
Fine in most situations
먹방 (mukbang) means an "eating show": a video or live stream where someone eats food on camera, often a lot of it, while chatting with viewers. The word and the trend started in Korea and spread worldwide.
Where it comes from
It combines 먹 (meok), from 먹다 ("to eat"), and 방 (bang), from 방송 ("broadcast").
How to use 먹방
People use 먹방 for YouTube eating videos, eating scenes on TV shows, and even jokingly for a friend who is eating with great enthusiasm.
You 보다 (watch) a 먹방 or 찍다 (film) one. It is a normal everyday word, fine in casual and polite speech alike.
The romanization "mukbang" is the most common in English, even though standard romanization would be meokbang.
Examples
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Telling a friend about your dinner habit
Planning a video with a friend
Explaining your late-night snacking
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 먹방 보다 | To watch mukbang | Everyday phrase. |
| 먹방 찍다 | To film a mukbang | Also used jokingly when someone eats a lot. |
| 먹방 유튜버 | Mukbang YouTuber | Someone who makes eating videos. |
| 쿡방 | Cooking show | Similar word from 쿡 (cook) + 방송. |
Questions learners ask
Is it mukbang or meokbang?
Both refer to 먹방. "Mukbang" is the spelling most people use in English, while "meokbang" follows the official romanization.
Why are mukbangs popular?
Many viewers enjoy the company of someone eating with them, especially when eating alone, and they like seeing new foods and big portions.
Is mukbang a slang word?
It started as a casual internet word but is now standard everyday vocabulary that anyone can use.