Watched a K-drama and someone says meong-meong when they see a dog?

Welcome to the playful side of Korean — where words don’t just speak, they sound exactly like what they describe.

In Korean, these “sound-like” words are everywhere. They're cute, expressive, and add life to conversations — whether it’s the sound of rain, footsteps, laughter, or even silence.

Let’s explore the world of Korean onomatopoeia — one fun sound at a time.

What Is Onomatopoeia?

Onomatopoeia means words that imitate real-life sounds — like buzz, boom, or meow in English.

In Korean, these are taken to a whole new level and split into two types:

• Uiseong-eo (의성어) – words that copy real sounds (like a dog barking or a phone ringing)
  
  

• Uitae-eo (의태어) – words that copy movements or feelings, even when they don’t make a sound (like tiptoeing or heart fluttering)

 Some Fun Korean Sound Words to Try

1. Meong-meong (멍멍) – Woof woof

Used for the sound of a dog barking

 “The dog went meong-meong all night!”

2. Dugeun-dugeun (두근두근) – Thump thump

Used for a racing heartbeat (when you're excited or nervous)

❤️ “My heart goes dugeun-dugeun before every test.”

3. Kkul-kkeok (꿀꺽) – Gulp

Used for swallowing something quickly or nervously

 “He drank the juice in one kkul-kkeok!”

4. Jjaeng-geu-rang (쨍그랑) – Crash!

Sound of glass breaking

 “The glass fell and went jjaeng-geu-rang!”

5. Bing-geul-bing-geul (빙글빙글) – Spin spin

Describes something spinning round and round

 “The fan is going bing-geul-bing-geul.”

 Why These Words Matter

Even though they’re playful, these words are seriously useful.

• They make you sound more natural in conversations

•  You'll notice them in K-dramas, K-pop lyrics, and webtoons

•  They help you understand emotions and actions in Korean better

• They’re super fun to say and easy to remember!

Quick Hack to Learn Them

Match each sound with an action or image in your mind.
Example: Spin around while saying bing-geul-bing-geul. It sticks!

 Bring Your Korean to Life with TLS

At The Language SKOOL, we don’t just teach grammar and vocabulary — we bring you closer to real Korean. That includes fun things like sound words, slang, everyday phrases, and the cultural stories behind them.

If you're tired of boring lessons and want to learn Korean in a way that’s fun, modern, and effective, we’ve got you.

 Speak naturally
 Understand culture
 Learn through K-dramas, music, and real-world examples

 Ready to start your Korean journey?
Join TLS today — where language sounds better.

[Explore Korean Courses – www.thelanguageskool.com]
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