Key Facts
- Hangul: 멋있다 (meositda)
- Meaning: cool; stylish
- Level: A1
- Part of speech: adjective
- Stem: 멋있
- Conjugation class: regular
- Grammar: 이/가 marks the person or thing that is cool. Its modifier is 멋있는, never 멋있은.
- Usage: Common for people, clothes and cars; 멋있게 means in a stylish way.
What Does 멋있다 Mean?
멋있다 is the all-round word for style. 멋있는 사람 is an impressive person, and the same adjective suits clothes and cars. It describes overall presence rather than a face alone.
Because the word ends in 있다, it behaves like a verb in one respect: the modifier takes 는, as in 멋있는 차.
How Do You Pronounce 멋있다?
멋 ends in ㅅ, so the dictionary form is read [머싣따] or [머딛따]. Both are standard: Article 15 of the standard pronunciation rules gives [머딛따] and explicitly allows [머싣따], the more common one in speech. Every ending that starts with a vowel therefore has two spoken shapes: 멋있어요 is [머시써요 / 머디써요]. The modifier 멋있는 is [머신는 / 머딘는].
How Do You Use 멋있다 in a Sentence?
그 배우는 정말 멋있어요.
That actor is really cool.
배우는 is the topic, and 정말 strengthens 멋있어요 into really cool.
어제 입은 옷이 멋있었어요.
The clothes you wore yesterday were stylish.
멋있었어요 is the past, and the clause 어제 입은 옷이 tells the reader which clothes were meant.
멋있는 차를 타고 싶어요.
I want to ride in a cool car.
멋있는 comes before 차를, and 타고 싶어요 expresses the wish to ride it.
The examples praise an actor (멋있어요), clothes (멋있었어요) and a car (멋있는), which shows that the word covers people and things alike.
How Does Meositda Conjugation Work?
멋있다 is regular: the stem 멋있 never changes, and 어 endings simply attach to give 멋있어요 and 멋있었어요. The one thing to remember is the modifier. Because the word ends in 있다, it uses 는 rather than the 은 of other adjectives: 멋있는.
To say something is not cool, put 안 in front for 안 멋있어요 or use the long negative 멋있지 않아요. The because-form is 멋있어서, the if-form 멋있으면, and the modifiers are 멋있는 (now), 멋있었던 (earlier) and 멋있을 (later); the honorific polite form is 멋있으세요.
멋있다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 멋있어요 | ||
| Polite past | 멋있었어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 멋있을 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 멋있겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 멋있습니다 | ||
| Formal past | 멋있었습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 멋있을 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 멋있어 | ||
| Casual past | 멋있었어 | ||
| Casual future | 멋있을 거야 | ||
| Honorific polite | 멋있으세요 | ||
| Because / and then | 멋있어서 | ||
| If (conditional) | 멋있으면 | ||
| Present modifier (before a noun) | 멋있는 | ||
| Past modifier (before a noun) | 멋있었던 | ||
| Future modifier (before a noun) | 멋있을 | ||
| Negative with 안 (short) | 안 멋있어요 | ||
| Negative (long form) | 멋있지 않아요 |
No want-to row: -고 싶다 suits verbs.
Sound Changes
| Form | Korean | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 멋있어요 | [머시써요 / 머디써요] |
| Polite past | 멋있었어요 | [머시써써요 / 머디써써요] |
| Polite future | 멋있을 거예요 | [머시쓸꺼예요 / 머디쓸꺼예요] |
| Polite future guess | 멋있겠어요 | [머싣께써요 / 머딛께써요] |
| Formal present | 멋있습니다 | [머싣씀니다 / 머딛씀니다] |
| Formal past | 멋있었습니다 | [머시썯씀니다 / 머디썯씀니다] |
| Formal future | 멋있을 것입니다 | [머시쓸꺼심니다 / 머디쓸꺼심니다] |
| Casual present | 멋있어 | [머시써 / 머디써] |
| Casual past | 멋있었어 | [머시써써 / 머디써써] |
| Casual future | 멋있을 거야 | [머시쓸꺼야 / 머디쓸꺼야] |
| Honorific | 멋있으세요 | [머시쓰세요 / 머디쓰세요] |
| Because form | 멋있어서 | [머시써서 / 머디써서] |
| Conditional | 멋있으면 | [머시쓰면 / 머디쓰면] |
| Present modifier | 멋있는 | [머신는 / 머딘는] |
| Past modifier | 멋있었던 | [머시썯떤 / 머디썯떤] |
| Future modifier | 멋있을 | [머시쓸 / 머디쓸] |
| Short negative | 안 멋있어요 | [안 머시써요 / 안 머디써요] |
| Long negative | 멋있지 않아요 | [머싣찌 아나요 / 머딛찌 아나요] |
Common Mistake
Wrong: ✗ 멋있은 사람
Correct: ✓ 멋있는 사람
Why: Most adjectives take 은 before a noun, so learners write 멋있은. The ending 있다 changes that: it takes 는.
How Does 멋있다 Sound in Context?
The adverb 멋있게 means 'in a stylish way'. A speaker who wants to praise someone's overall look or manner reaches for 멋있다, while a comment on the face alone belongs to 잘생기다.
What Is Easy to Confuse with 멋있다?
| Word | How to tell it from 멋있다 |
|---|---|
| 맛있다 | 맛있다 is delicious; the first syllables differ by one vowel (멋 vs 맛). |
| 잘생기다 | 잘생기다 refers only to a good-looking face, while 멋있다 is overall style and charm. |
After a Friend’s Stage Performance
Two friends talk after a school performance. Jisu praises what Alex did on stage; Alex mentions the outfit. The scene moves from 멋있었어요 to 멋있는 and then 멋있어요.
Jisu
오늘 무대에서 정말 멋있었어요.
Oneul mudaeeseo jeongmal meosisseosseoyo.
You were really impressive on stage today.
Alex
고마워요. 멋있는 옷을 빌렸어요.
Gomawoyo. Meosinneun oseul billyeosseoyo.
Thanks. I borrowed some stylish clothes.
Jisu
옷도 멋있어요.
Otdo meosisseoyo.
The clothes look great too.
무대에서 places the compliment on stage, so “impressive” fits better than a narrow comment about facial appearance. 옷도 means “the clothes too”: Jisu is adding praise for the outfit. 멋있는 sits directly before 옷, while 멋있어요 finishes a sentence about the clothes.
Which Phrases Use 멋있다 Naturally?
정말 멋있어요 means “that’s really cool” or “you look really impressive”. The subject often disappears when both people are looking at the same person, jacket or performance. 정말 strengthens the praise. The phrase itself does not specify whether the speaker likes someone romantically.
멋있는 사람 is a “cool” or “admirable person”. The appeal might come from clothing, confidence, skill or an admirable action. For a person who calmly helps someone in trouble, the compliment can be about conduct. An English translation limited to “handsome” may miss that point.
멋있게 means “in a stylish or impressive way”. It describes how something is done rather than naming a stylish object. The difference is visible in the ending: 멋있는 belongs before a noun, while 멋있게 can describe an action. In an outfit discussion, the focus is on the way someone has put the look together.
Where Will You Hear 멋있어요?
Friends use 멋있어요 while reacting to a new haircut, an outfit or a photograph. Fans also use it about performers and memorable scenes. In these settings, English “cool”, “great” and “impressive” may all fit. Look at what prompted the reaction rather than memorizing just one English equivalent.
The adjective is available for people of any gender. It can praise someone’s overall presence without making a claim about their face. With a teacher or senior colleague, 멋있으세요 can express admiration respectfully. Use that form about the respected person, rather than adding it to a car or jacket simply because the listener is older.
A compliment about a coworker’s presentation may praise confidence or delivery. A compliment about a coat points to style. The same Korean word can cover both, so a listener usually needs the surrounding conversation to know exactly what you admire.
What Makes 멋있는 Easy to Get Wrong?
The adjective meaning encourages learners to expect a modifier ending in 은. However, the 있다 part gives 멋있는. Keep that spelling even though the pronunciation links and changes sounds. The ㄴ heard in the spoken modifier does not mean the written stem has changed.
Write 멋있다 as one word. Its first syllable is 멋, associated with style or charm. 맛있다 starts with 맛, “taste”. The two can both be compliments at a restaurant: one might praise the interior or someone’s outfit, while the other praises the food. Decide what is being described before choosing the vowel.
| Related word | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 멋 | style / charm | The noun behind the idea of looking or acting impressive. |
| 잘생기다 | to be good-looking | Focuses on physical appearance. |
| 예쁘다 | to be pretty | Often praises beauty or an attractive appearance. |
| 귀엽다 | to be cute | Praises an endearing impression rather than a stylish one. |
See the personality and appearance word set for more ways to explain what you like about someone.
Mini Drill: Build the Compliment
- Complete “a cool person”: ____ 사람.
- Change 멋있어요 to the polite past after a performance.
- Choose the word for delicious food: 멋있다 or 맛있다.
- Choose the honorific polite form from the table for an admired teacher.
Show drill answers
- 멋있는 사람.
- 멋있었어요.
- 맛있다.
- 멋있으세요.
Quick Self-Test
- Can 멋있다 praise an admirable action?
- Does 멋있어요 alone mean someone is flirting?
- Which form describes a manner: 멋있는 or 멋있게?
Show answers
- Yes. Its meaning extends beyond clothing and facial appearance.
- No. It can be an ordinary compliment.
- 멋있게 describes the way an action is done.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Modifier of 멋있다?
멋있는, as in 멋있는 사람. The 있다 ending takes 는.
Is 멋있다 the Same as 맛있다?
No. 멋있다 is cool or stylish, 맛있다 is delicious.
Which Pronunciation Is Right, [머싣따] or [머딛따]?
Both are standard (Article 15 allows [머싣따] alongside [머딛따]), and [머싣따] is the one heard more often.
How Do I Say a Cool Car?
멋있는 차.
Which Words Are Related to 멋있다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Compare 멋있다 with 잘생기다 next, because the pair covers style versus face. 맛있다 is worth a look to avoid the one-vowel mix-up. The regular pattern behind 멋있어요 is explained in the present-tense recipe. Then put another word through the Korean verb conjugator and compare the pattern, or browse more entries in the Korean verb dictionary.