Korean · Food & Drink
"Spicy" in Korean: 맵다
맵다maepda
Spicy in Korean is 맵다 (maepda). 맵다 changes ㅂ to 우 before the vowel ending; 매워요 describes chili heat rather than a high temperature.
Spicy: an everyday statement
이 음식은 매워요.i eumsigeun maewoyo.
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How to pronounce 맵다
Say it
maepda
/mɛp̚t͈a/
Read 맵다 as maepda. The spoken form 매워요 is maewoyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"Spicy" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 맵다maepda | Spicy Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 매워요maewoyo | Spicy (polite present) Use 매워요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 매워요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 매웠어요maewosseoyo | Spicy (polite past) Use 매웠어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 매웠어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 맵다 in real life
- 1Spicy: an everyday statement
이 음식은 매워요.
i eumsigeun maewoyo.
This food is spicy.
매워요 is the present form of 맵다.
- 2Spicy: a different situation
어제 먹은 국이 매웠어요.
eoje meogeun gugi maewosseoyo.
The soup I ate yesterday was spicy.
매웠어요 is the past form of 맵다.
- 3Spicy: a question or request
많이 매워요?
mani maewoyo?
Is it very spicy?
매워요 is the present form of 맵다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 맵다
Incorrect: 맵다.
Correct: 매워요.
When practicing spicy, 맵다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 매워요.
Incorrect: 어제 매워요.
Correct: 어제 매웠어요.
When practicing spicy, for a completed event yesterday, use 매웠어요; the present form 매워요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
맵다 changes ㅂ to 우 before the vowel ending; 매워요 describes chili heat rather than a high temperature. 매워요 is the polite conversational form of 맵다; 매웠어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led food and drink study exercise: two sentences with 맵다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
이 음식은 매워요.
i eumsigeun maewoyo.
This food is spicy.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 먹은 국이 매웠어요.
eoje meogeun gugi maewosseoyo.
The soup I ate yesterday was spicy.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Spicy" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Spicy" in Korean
How do I use 맵다 in polite speech?
매워요 is the polite conversational form of 맵다; 매웠어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 맵다 in a past-tense sentence?
매웠어요 is the polite past form. 맵다 changes ㅂ to 우 before the vowel ending; 매워요 describes chili heat rather than a high temperature.
What does 매워요 mean here?
매워요 is used for spicy. For example, 이 음식은 매워요. means “This food is spicy.”
What should I remember about 맵다?
맵다 changes ㅂ to 우 before the vowel ending; 매워요 describes chili heat rather than a high temperature.
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