Café & Drinks

1. 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요

   A-me-ri-ka-no han jan ju-se-yo

   One Americano, please

   Usage

   Ordering the most popular coffee in Korean cafés

   Grammar Note

   "잔" is the counter for cups/glasses. Cold Americano is so popular in Korea that the term "얼죽아" (Americano even when freezing) exists.

2. 카페라테 아이스로 주세요

   Ka-pe-ra-te a-i-seu-ro ju-se-yo

   Please give me an iced café latte

   Usage

   Ordering an iced café latte

   Grammar Note

   "아이스로" means "as iced". "핫으로" means "as hot". These are common temperature specifiers when ordering.

3. 녹차 주세요

   Nok-cha ju-se-yo

   Green tea, please

   Usage

   Ordering green tea at a café or Korean restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "녹차" comes from "綠茶". Korean tea culture also includes "보리차" (barley tea) and "유자차" (yuzu tea).

4. 설탕 빼 주세요

   Seol-tang ppae ju-se-yo

   Please hold the sugar

   Usage

   Requesting no sugar in a drink

   Grammar Note

   "빼다" means "to remove". You can also say "시럽 빼 주세요" (no syrup) for drink customization.

5. 소주 한 병 주세요

   So-ju han byeong ju-se-yo

   One bottle of soju, please

   Usage

   Ordering soju at a restaurant or pub

   Grammar Note

   "병" is the counter for bottles. "맥주" (beer), "막걸리" (makgeolli), and "소주" are Korea's representative drinks.

6. 달달한 음료 있어요?

   Dal-dal-han eum-nyo i-sseo-yo?

   Do you have sweet drinks?

   Usage

   Asking if there are any sweet drink options

   Grammar Note

   "달달하다" is a colloquial, emphatic form of "달다" (sweet), with a nuance of endearing sweetness.

7. 얼음 빼 주세요

   Eol-eum ppae ju-se-yo

   No ice, please

   Usage

   Requesting a drink without ice

   Grammar Note

   "얼음" (ice) is derived from "얼다" (to freeze). "얼음 많이 주세요" (extra ice, please) is also useful.

8. 오늘의 커피는 뭐예요?

   O-neul-ui keo-pi-neun mwo-ye-yo?

   What is today's coffee?

   Usage

   Asking about the coffee of the day at a café

   Grammar Note

   "의" is a possessive particle similar to English "'s" or Japanese "の". "오늘의 추천" (today's recommendation) is also common.

9. 따뜻한 거 마시고 싶어요

   Tta-tteu-tan geo ma-si-go si-peo-yo

   I want to drink something warm

   Usage

   Expressing a preference for a warm drink

   Grammar Note

   "-고 싶다" expresses desire. "따뜻한" (warm, adjective form) + "거" (thing) = "something warm".

10. 막걸리 한 잔 해요

    Mak-geol-li han jan hae-yo

    Let's have a glass of makgeolli

    Usage

    Inviting someone to drink a glass of traditional Korean rice wine

    Grammar Note

    "한 잔 하다" is an idiomatic phrase for "have a drink". "해요" can mean "let's do" as an invitation.

11. 생수

    Saeng-su

    Bottled water

    Usage

    Bottled drinking water; plain or tap water is "물"

12. 뜨거운 물

    Tteu-geo-un mul

    Hot water

    Usage

    For asking for hot water — to drink, or for instant noodles or formula

Browse all TravelPhrases languages