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• Korean
  Korean

  adjective

  of or relating to Korea, its inhabitants, or their language.
• korean
  korean

  adjective

  of or relating to Korea, its people, or their language

Korean

American  

[kuh-ree-uhn, kaw-, koh-] / kəˈri ən, kɔ-, koʊ- /

adjective

1. of or relating to Korea, its inhabitants, or their language.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of South Korea or North Korea.

2. the language of South Korea or North Korea. Kor

korean British  

/ kəˈriːən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Korea, its people, or their language

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Korea

2. the official language of North and South Korea, considered by some scholars to be part of the Altaic family of languages

Etymology

Origin of Korean

First recorded in 1605–15; Kore(a) + -an

Compare meaning

How does korean compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Korean vs. Vietnam War

Example Sentences

Are you hoping that this movie is going to have an impact on the Korean film industry?

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

About 2,000 North Koreans have been killed in combat according to the South Korean spy agency.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

South Korean boy band BTS, U.S. pop culture icon Madonna and Latin music superstar Shakira will be performing at halftime during the World Cup final July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.,

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Meanwhile, the seven members of BTS are the best-selling music act in South Korean history, with more than 45 million albums sold.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

Gunwoo’s family had escaped from the North and lost many members to the Russians and North Korea’s KPA, Korean People’s Army.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh