Korean word

끓다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkkeulta

Meaning

  • verbboil

Example

물이 끓고 있어요.mu ri kkeul ko i sseo yo

The water is boiling.

Illustration for 끓다 (boil)

More examples

물이 금방 끓었어요.mu ri keum bang kkeu reo sseo yo

The water boiled quickly.

Core concept

A liquid gets hot enough to bubble rapidly, and food can cook in it.

Common phrases

  • 물이 끓다mu ri kkeul ta

    water boils

  • 국이 끓다ku gi kkeul ta

    soup boils

Similar words

끓이다kkeurida: Heating water or another liquid makes it bubble and boil.
삶다samtta: Cooking food in water makes it soft and fully cooked.
끓어오르다kkeureooreuda: A boiling liquid surges upward as bubbles rise through it.

Definition in Korean

물이 일정한 온도에 이르러 빠르게 기포가 생기거나 국물과 음식이 익어 소리가 나는 상태를 뜻하는 동사이며, 일상에서 널리 쓰임mu ri il jeong han on do e i reu reo ppa reu ge ki po ga saeng gi geo na kung mul gwa eum si gi i geo so ri ga na neun sang tae reul tteu ta neun tong sa i myeo il sang e seo neol li sseu im

Word origin

The word has an uncertain deeper history, while its known meaning is tied to the visible bubbling of liquid over heat.

Usage tips

  • This verb marks a stronger cooking stage than simply heating water, which helps distinguish it from a warm but quiet pot.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word