Key Facts
- Hangul: 댓글; Revised Romanization: daetgeul; pronounced [daet-kkeul]
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: mixed (native and Sino-Korean elements)
- Register: Neutral to casual; used for comments on posts and videos.
Comment in Korean: What Does 댓글 Mean?
댓글 is the reply or comment someone posts under an online post, video or photo. It is the normal word for this and sits between neutral and casual. The English "comment" can also mean a remark or an opinion, but 댓글 is limited to the thing posted below something online.
How Do You Pronounce 댓글?
댓글 has two syllables and is written daetgeul in Revised Romanization, but pronounced [daet-kkeul]. The final ㅅ of the first syllable sounds like a t, and the following ㄱ then turns tense, a kk. Because of the tensing you hear daet-kkeul rather than daet-geul.
Example Sentences with 댓글
댓글을 남겼어요.
Daetgeureul namgyeosseoyo.
I left a comment.
남겼어요 is "left" in the past tense, as in leaving a comment behind.
이 영상에 댓글이 많아요.
I yeongsange daetgeuri manayo.
This video has many comments.
이 영상에 means "on this video", and 많아요 means "there are many".
친구가 제 사진에 댓글을 달았어요.
Chinguga je sajine daetgeureul darasseoyo.
A friend commented on my photo.
달았어요 is the past of the verb that pairs with 댓글, and 제 사진에 means "on my photo".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 댓글을 달다 | to leave a comment |
| 댓글을 남기다 | to leave a comment |
| 댓글이 달리다 | for comments to be posted |
| 악플 | malicious comment (slang; neutral term 악성 댓글) |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 코멘트 for an online comment
Correct: ✓ 댓글
Why: 코멘트 is a loanword used in formal or media contexts for a statement or remark. For comments under a post, 댓글 is the normal word.
댓글 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 댓글 | comment (online reply) | The word on this page. |
| 의견 | opinion | A view someone holds, not something posted under a video. |
| 코멘트 | comment (loanword) | Used for remarks in formal or media settings. |
| 답장 | reply | A reply to a message, rather than a public comment. |
People leave a 댓글 under a post, send a 답장 to a message and state an 의견 in a meeting.
Where Does the Word Come From?
The first part of 댓글 comes from 對 ("reply"), and 글 is the native word for writing; an extra ㅅ links the two parts. Because one half is Sino-Korean and the other native, the word has no full hanja spelling. The National Institute of Korean Language explains this mixed origin and spelling.
Finding a Comment under a Video
Jisu has uploaded a video. Alex wants to know whether a question in the comments has been answered.
Alex
제 댓글 봤어요?
Je daetgeul bwasseoyo?
Did you see my comment?
Jisu
네. 답글도 남겼어요.
Ne. Dapgeuldo namgyeosseoyo.
Yes. I left a reply too.
Alex
어디에 있어요?
Eodie isseoyo?
Where is it?
Jisu
댓글 아래에 있어요.
Daetgeul araee isseoyo.
It is below your comment.
The first line asks about a public comment under the video. 답글 in the answer names the reply to that comment. 아래에 means “below,” which gives Alex a place to look within the thread. The exchange concerns an online discussion rather than a private message reply.
Phrases for Reading and Managing Comments
댓글을 달다 literally uses a verb meaning to attach or hang something. With 댓글, the ordinary meaning is to post a comment. 댓글을 남기다 uses “leave” and reaches the same practical result. Neither expression suggests that a comment is a physical object you need to attach by hand.
댓글이 달리다 shifts the focus to the post receiving comments. In 댓글을 달다, someone posts a comment; in 댓글이 달리다, a comment appears or is added. The change from 을 to 이 matches that shift. This helps you follow a sentence even when the writer does not name the person commenting.
댓글을 읽다 means to read comments. 댓글을 삭제하다 means to delete a comment. Both use 댓글 as the object of an action, but only the second removes it. A label such as 댓글 삭제 concerns deletion, while 댓글 작성 concerns composing or posting a comment.
답글 means a written reply, often nested under a comment online. It identifies an answer to another piece of writing. 답장 is the reply you send to a message or letter. If you want someone to check a public thread, 답글 points them toward a different place from a private 답장.
Where Will You See 댓글?
Video pages, social media posts and news articles may display 댓글 beside a comment count. That label names the section or its contents. It does not mean the whole article is an opinion piece, and it does not tell you whether the comments agree with the original post.
댓글을 남겨 주세요 means “Please leave a comment.” A creator may say it at the end of a video to invite responses. 주세요 makes the request polite. The noun 댓글 itself stays neutral, whether the comment contains a question, praise, disagreement or a correction.
댓글창 means a comment section or comment window. 창 literally means a window here, but the phrase refers to the part of an interface where comments appear. A discussion of the 댓글창 usually concerns that space and its conversation, rather than one particular comment.
A Comment, an Opinion or Feedback?
댓글 tells you where a piece of writing appears. 의견 tells you that it expresses a view. A 댓글 can contain an 의견, but it could also contain a brief thank-you or a question. The two nouns describe different features of the same writing and are not strict opposites.
For feedback on a colleague's document, 피드백 is a useful word. The existing 코멘트 comparison points you toward remarks or observations rather than the usual label under a public post. Choose 댓글 when the online comment itself is what you want the listener to find, read or answer.
Words for Following a Thread
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 게시물 | post | The main item that comments appear under. |
| 답글 | written reply | Often an answer nested under a comment. |
| 댓글창 | comment section / window | Names the space containing comments. |
| 작성 | writing / composing | Appears in interface labels for creating text. |
The social media vocabulary lesson connects comments with posts, tags and other interface words.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 댓글을 달다 mean physically hanging a comment?
- Which word fits a reply nested under a comment: 답글 or 답장?
- Must every 댓글 express an 의견?
Show answers
- No. It means posting a comment.
- 답글.
- No. A comment may simply ask a question or thank someone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "comment" in Korean?
Comment in Korean is 댓글 (daetgeul), pronounced [daet-kkeul]. It means a reply posted under an online post.
How do I say "leave a comment"?
Say 댓글을 달다 or 댓글을 남기다. Both are natural.
What is 악플?
악플 is slang for a malicious comment, from 악 (bad) plus 리플 (reply). The neutral term is 악성 댓글.
Can I use 코멘트 instead?
Only for a remark or statement in formal or media contexts. For online comments, 댓글 is the normal word.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean Social Media Vocabulary groups 댓글 with its neighbours.
- Index: find comment beside every other single-word entry in Korean words A to Z.
- See also hashtag.
- See also opinion.