Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to eat" in Korean: 먹다
먹다meokda
To eat in Korean is 먹다 (meokda). Its polite present form is 먹어요 (meogeoyo); 밥을 먹어요 can mean I eat rice or I have a meal.
A simple sentence
밥을 먹어요.babeul meogeoyo.
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How to pronounce 먹다
Say it
muhk-dah
/mʌk.t͈a/
The ㄱ in 먹다 closes the first syllable. In 먹어요 it links to the next vowel, giving meo-geo-yo.
"to eat" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 먹다meokda | to eat Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 먹어요meogeoyo | eat / eats Polite present form. | Polite present form. |
| 먹었어요meogeosseoyo | ate / have eaten Polite past form. | Polite past form. |
How to use 먹다 in real life
- 1A simple sentence
밥을 먹어요.
babeul meogeoyo.
I eat rice / have a meal.
The object comes before 먹어요.
- 2An everyday situation
아침을 먹었어요.
achimeul meogeosseoyo.
I ate breakfast.
먹었어요 describes a completed past meal.
- 3A useful question
같이 먹어요.
gachi meogeoyo.
Let’s eat together.
In this context the polite form acts as an invitation.
Mistakes English speakers make with 먹다
Incorrect: 저는 먹다.
Correct: 저는 먹어요.
A dictionary form is not the ordinary polite sentence ending.
Incorrect: 밥이 먹어요.
Correct: 밥을 먹어요.
Rice is the object, so use 을 rather than subject 이.
Good to know
드세요 is a respectful way to invite someone to eat. 먹어요 is polite everyday speech, but honorific choices depend on who performs the action.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Arrange a meal
Partner
지금 밥을 먹어요?
jigeum babeul meogeoyo?
Are you eating now?
You
네, 같이 먹어요.
ne, gachi meogeoyo.
Yes, let’s eat together.
Partner
뭘 먹을까요?
mwol meogeulkkayo?
What shall we eat?
You
김밥을 먹어요.
gimbabeul meogeoyo.
Let’s eat gimbap.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to eat" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to eat" in Korean
What is the polite form of meokda?
먹어요, meogeoyo, is the polite present form.
How do I say ate?
먹었어요, meogeosseoyo, is the polite past form.
Can bap mean a meal?
Yes. 밥을 먹어요 can refer to having a meal, depending on context.
What is a respectful invitation to eat?
드세요, deuseyo, respectfully invites someone to eat or drink.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
