Korean word

소문

Pronunciation

Romanizationsomun

Meaning

  • nounrumor

Example

회사에 소문이 돌고 있다.hoe sa e so mu ni tol go it tta

A rumor is going around the company.

Illustration for 소문 (rumor)

More examples

누가 소문을 퍼뜨렸어?nu ga so mu neul peo tteu ryeo sseo

Who spread the rumor?

Core concept

An unverified story moves from person to person until it spreads through a group.

Common phrases

  • 소문이 돌다so mu ni tol da

    rumor circulating

  • 소문을 퍼뜨리다so mu neul peo tteu ri da

    spread a rumor

  • 소문을 듣다so mu neul teut tta

    hear a rumor

Similar words

루머rumeo: Unverified information passed among people or through the media and gradually spread.
유언비어yueonbieo: A false story deliberately spread to mislead people.
헛소문heotssomun: A groundless made-up story passed from person to person.

Definition in Korean

확인되지 않은 이야기가 사람들 사이에 전해져 퍼지는 말hwa gin doe ji a neun i ya gi ga sa ram deul sa i e cheon hae jeo peo ji neun mal

Word origin

The word developed from a Sino-Korean compound meaning what is heard and came to describe an unconfirmed story circulating among people.

Usage tips

  • English gossip often suggests talk about people, while this Korean noun also covers unverified claims about events or situations.

Other meanings

  • gossipnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word