Korean word

무엇

Pronunciation

Romanizationmueot

Meaning

  • pronounwhat

Example

무엇이 문제예요?mu eo si mun je ye yo

What is the problem?

Illustration for 무엇 (what)

More examples

무엇을 찾으세요?mu eo seul cha jeu se yo

What are you looking for?

Core concept

A question word used to identify an unknown thing, its content, or its kind.

Common phrases

  • 무엇을mu eo seul

    what

  • 무엇이mu eo si

    what

Similar words

뭐mwo: An everyday spoken question word for identifying an unknown thing or fact.
뭘mwol: A casual question word for asking which thing is involved in an action or choice.
무언가mueonga: An unspecified thing mentioned without saying exactly what it is.
무엇인가mueosinga: A formal expression for referring to an uncertain or unnamed thing.

Definition in Korean

정체나 내용을 묻는 의문사로, 단독으로 쓰이거나 조사가 붙어 '무엇이/무엇을'처럼 쓰인다.cheong che na nae yong eul mun neun ui mun sa ro tan do geu ro sseu i geo na cho sa ga pu teo mu eo si mu eo seul cheo reom sseu in da

Word origin

The historical formation of this Korean question word is uncertain, so no reliable component-based origin is given.

Usage tips

  • The full form is useful in careful speech, but everyday conversation often uses a shorter spoken form.

Other meanings

  • somethingpronoun

Related words

  • 무엇보다mueotppodaabove alladverb
  • 무엇인가mueosingasomethingpronoun

Word lists with this word