Korean word

외국어

Pronunciation

Romanizationoegugeo

Meaning

  • nounforeign language

Example

저는 외국어를 배우고 싶어요.cheo neun oe gu geo reul pae u go si peo yo

I want to learn a foreign language.

Illustration for 외국어 (foreign language)

More examples

그는 외국어로 자기 생각을 표현한다.keu neun oe gu geo ro cha gi saeng ga geul pyo hyeon han da

He expresses his thoughts in a foreign language.

Core concept

A language used by people from another country rather than the learner's own country.

Common phrases

  • 외국어로 말하다oe gu geo ro mal ha da

    speak in a foreign language

  • 외국어로 소통하다oe gu geo ro so tong ha da

    communicate in a foreign language

  • 외국어 학습oe gu geo hak sseup

    foreign-language learning

Similar words

언어eoneo: A system for sharing thoughts and information through speech, writing, or signs.
외국말oegungmal: A casual term for a language spoken in another country.
말mal: Spoken words shared between people in everyday conversation.

Definition in Korean

자기 나라 말이 아닌 다른 나라의 말을 가리키는 말.cha gi na ra ma ri a nin ta reun na ra ui ma reul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

The word is a Sino-Korean compound whose elements mean outside, country, and language, directly forming the idea of a language from another country.

Usage tips

  • Korean uses this broad term when discussing languages as a group, while everyday conversation often names the particular language instead.

Opposites

Word lists with this word