Key Facts
- Hangul: 술; Revised Romanization: sul
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral; refers to alcoholic drinks in general.
Alcohol in Korean: What Does 술 Mean?
술 means "alcohol" or "alcoholic drink" in general, in a neutral register. Specific drinks have their own names, such as 소주 and 맥주, but 술 is the umbrella you use when the type does not matter.
How Do You Pronounce It?
One syllable, sul. The s is soft, and the final ㄹ is a light l, with the tongue touching behind the teeth. When 을 follows, the ㄹ moves across and becomes a quick tap, closer to r, giving sureul.
Example Sentences with 술
저는 술을 안 마셔요.
Jeoneun sureul an masyeoyo
I do not drink alcohol.
안 sits before the verb to negate it, so this is the polite way to turn down a drink or explain that you never drink.
술 한잔할까요?
Sul hanjanhalkkayo
Shall we have a drink?
한잔 is "one drink" and the ending 할까요 is a suggestion, so this is the invitation to go for a drink.
아버지는 술을 좋아하세요.
Abeojineun sureul joahaseyo
My father likes alcohol.
좋아하세요 is the honorific of "like", which is respectful toward the father.
Common Phrases and Collocations
술을 마시다 is to drink alcohol and 술을 끊다 is to quit. 술에 취하다 is to get drunk, and 술집 is a bar or pub.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 술을 마시다 | to drink alcohol |
| 술을 끊다 | to quit drinking |
| 술에 취하다 | to get drunk |
| 술집 | bar / pub |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners carry over 먹다 from food and use it everywhere.
Casual, not wrong: 술을 먹다. Native speakers say it often in relaxed talk.
Safer default: 술을 마시다. It fits every register, including polite and written Korean.
술 Compared with 소주, 맥주 and 음주
소주 is soju, a specific spirit, and 맥주 is beer. 음주 is the formal term for drinking alcohol.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 술 | alcohol | This page's word |
| 소주 | soju | soju, a specific spirit |
| 맥주 | beer | beer |
| 음주 | drinking alcohol (formal) | drinking (formal) |
Where Does the Word Come From?
술 is native Korean, with no hanja.
Cultural Note
In Korea, it is customary to pour drinks for others rather than for yourself, and to receive a glass with both hands, especially from elders.
At Dinner: Declining an Alcoholic Drink
A host offers a drink. The guest declines, and the host offers water instead.
Host
술 드실래요?
Sul deusillaeyo?
Would you like an alcoholic drink?
Guest
아니요, 저는 술을 안 마셔요.
Aniyo, jeoneun sureul an masyeoyo.
No, I don’t drink alcohol.
Host
그럼 물 드릴까요?
Geureom mul deurilkkayo?
Then shall I get you some water?
Guest
네, 감사합니다.
Ne, gamsahamnida.
Yes, thank you.
드실래요 uses the respectful verb 드시다 for the guest's drinking. The guest uses 마셔요 about themselves. The noun 술 stays the same in both lines; respect changes the verb rather than the name of the drink.
The guest gives a complete answer without naming a reason. 그럼, “then”, moves the conversation to another option. 물 means water, so the final offer is clear about what will be served.
A Habit, a Limit or Today's Choice?
술을 안 마셔요 usually states that you do not drink alcohol, especially in a conversation about preferences. 오늘은 술을 안 마셔요 narrows it to “I’m not drinking alcohol today”. 오늘은 makes the time limit explicit, so the listener does not need to guess whether you mean a general habit.
술을 잘 못 마셔요 means you cannot drink much or do not handle alcohol well. 잘 못 describes limited ability or tolerance here. It is useful when that is the message you want to convey; it does not make the same firm statement as saying that you do not drink.
술을 끊다 means “quit drinking”. 끊다 literally means “cut” or “break off”, but this combination concerns ending a habit. It suggests a change from earlier drinking, while 술을 안 마시다 can simply describe someone who has never drunk alcohol.
What Do the Set Phrases Imply?
술 한잔하다 means “have a drink”. In an invitation, 한잔 does not promise that everyone will drink exactly one glass. The expression can suggest spending time together over drinks, so read it as a social invitation rather than a precise order.
술자리 literally combines alcohol with a place or occasion. It means a drinking gathering or a social occasion involving alcohol. It can refer to the occasion as a whole, including conversation and food, rather than just the liquid in someone's glass.
술에 취하다 means “become drunk”. The marker 에 connects intoxication with alcohol. This describes a person's condition; it is different from 술을 좋아하다, “like alcohol”, which says something about preference and does not mean the person is drunk now.
Where Will You See 술 and 주류?
In everyday talk, 술 is the broad word for alcoholic drinks. A restaurant menu or shop category may use 주류, “alcoholic beverages”. Under that heading you may find 맥주, 소주 and 와인. They are specific types within the wider category.
알코올 is the loanword for alcohol as a substance. It appears in contexts beyond drinks, so an English label containing “alcohol” does not always call for 술 in Korean. For a dinner invitation or a statement about drinking habits, 술 is the useful everyday choice.
Related Words for a Drinks Menu
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 주류 | alcoholic beverages | A menu or shop category. |
| 안주 | food eaten with alcohol | Often ordered to share during drinks. |
| 술잔 | drinking glass | Names the vessel rather than the drink. |
| 건배 | cheers / a toast | Used when making a toast. |
The drinks vocabulary lesson teaches the drink names together. 안주 describes food's role alongside alcohol; it is not the general word for every snack.
Quick Self-Test
- Which expression suggests quitting a previous drinking habit?
- Does 술 한잔하다 always specify exactly one glass?
- What menu heading means “alcoholic beverages”?
Show answers
- 술을 끊다.
- No. It can be a general invitation to have a drink.
- 주류.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "alcohol" in Korean?
Say 술 (sul).
Which verb goes with 술?
마시다 is the safe default, as in 술을 마시다. 먹다 is also common in casual speech.
How do you say "I do not drink alcohol"?
저는 술을 안 마셔요.
What is 소주?
소주 is a specific spirit, soju, one kind of 술.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Drinks words groups 술 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 술 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the drinks list is the word for beer. See the page for beer.
- Compare with the page for soju.