Korean word

섬

Pronunciation

Romanizationseom

Meaning

  • nounisland

Example

주말에 섬으로 여행 갈 거예요.chu ma re seo meu ro yeo haeng kal kkeo ye yo

We are going on a trip to an island this weekend.

Illustration for 섬 (island)

More examples

작은 섬에 등대가 있어요.cha geun seo me teung dae ga i sseo yo

There is a lighthouse on a small island.

Core concept

Land separated from the mainland and surrounded mainly by sea.

Common phrases

  • 작은 섬cha geun seom

    small island

  • 섬 근처seom keun cheo

    near the island

Similar words

도to: A formal term for an island often used in place names.
육지yukjji: Solid ground not surrounded by water, especially the mainland.

Definition in Korean

육지와 떨어져 주로 바다에 둘러싸여 있는 땅.yuk jji wa tteo reo jeo chu ro pa da e tul leo ssa yeo in neun ttang

Word origin

This is a native Korean word with no reliably useful modern breakdown, so its whole form is learned as the everyday word for an island.

Usage tips

  • The Korean word is pronounced as one syllable, seom, unlike English island, which has a silent s.

Opposites

  • 본토pontomainlandnoun

Related words

  • 섬마을seommaeulisland villagenoun
  • 섬주민seomjuminisland residentnoun

Word lists with this word