Key Facts
- Hangul: 기타; Revised Romanization: gita
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: loanword
- Register: Neutral loanword. 기타 is also a separate Sino-Korean word (其他) meaning 'other', so context matters.
Guitar in Korean: What Does 기타 Mean?
기타 is a neutral loanword. Watch out: 기타 is also a separate Sino-Korean word (其他) meaning "other" or "etc.", so context matters. The guitar sense is clear when a verb like 치다 or a word like 소리 follows. On a form or in a list, a lone 기타 usually means "other", so read what comes next before you translate. In a music conversation the instrument meaning is the safe default.
How Do You Pronounce 기타?
Say gi-ta. The ㄱ at the start sits between a "g" and a "k", and the ㅌ in the second syllable is aspirated, with a puff of air.
Example Sentences with 기타
저는 기타를 쳐요.
Jeoneun gitareul chyeoyo.
I play the guitar.
A hobby sentence. 쳐요 is the polite form of 치다, the verb for playing the guitar or piano.
기타 소리가 좋아요.
Gita soriga joayo.
The guitar sound is nice.
Evaluates the instrument. 소리 means "sound", and 좋아요 means "is good".
친구에게 기타를 배워요.
Chinguege gitareul baewoyo.
I learn guitar from a friend.
A learning sentence. 배워요 is the polite present of "to learn", and 에게 marks the teacher.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Playing and performing are the main uses.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 기타를 치다 | play guitar |
| 기타 연주 | guitar performance |
| 전자기타 | electric guitar |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners confuse 기타 (guitar) with the homograph 기타 (其他, "etc."), which appears on forms. The spelling is identical, so only the surrounding words tell you which one is meant.
Wrong: reading 기타 as "guitar" when it is the last option on a form
Correct: on a form or at the end of a list, 기타 means "other"; next to 치다, 소리 or 연주, it is the guitar
기타 Compared with Similar Words
The homograph 기타 means "other, etc.". 피아노 is piano, another instrument. Compare 전자기타, which is clearly an electric guitar.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 기타 | guitar | This page's word |
| 기타 (其他) | other, etc. | homograph meaning 'other, etc.' |
| 피아노 | piano | piano |
Where Does the Word Come From?
기타 for the instrument is a loanword. The homograph meaning "other" is Sino-Korean, written 其他.
Asking about a Beginner’s Guitar Class
A prospective student asks a music teacher about lessons. Both speakers use polite speech.
Student
여기서 기타를 배울 수 있어요?
Yeogiseo gitareul baeul su isseoyo?
Can I learn guitar here?
Teacher
네. 기타 쳐 보셨어요?
Ne. Gita chyeo bosyeosseoyo?
Yes. Have you played guitar before?
Student
아니요, 처음이에요.
Aniyo, cheoeumieyo.
No, this is my first time.
Teacher
그럼 기초부터 배워요.
Geureom gichobuteo baewoyo.
Then let’s start with the basics.
배울 수 있어요 asks whether learning is possible. 쳐 보셨어요 asks about previous experience playing the instrument and politely addresses the student. 처음이에요 makes the beginner’s position clear without needing a long explanation of musical ability.
Playing, Learning and Performing
기타를 치다 is the everyday combination for playing guitar. 치다 can mean “hit” in other settings, but the instrument phrase means “play”. It covers ordinary playing, including strumming and picking; it does not tell you to strike the guitar body.
기타를 연주하다 also means to play guitar, with more emphasis on musical performance. It fits a concert description or a more formal introduction to a musician. 기타 연주 is the noun phrase “guitar performance” or “guitar playing”, useful in video titles and event descriptions.
기타를 배우다 means to learn guitar, and 기타를 가르치다 means to teach guitar. The instrument remains the object in both. In the existing example, 친구에게 identifies the person you learn from. 에게 can point to different roles with different verbs, so the verb 배워요 is what makes the friend the source of the lesson.
Which Guitar Do You Mean?
통기타 is the everyday word commonly used for an acoustic guitar. 일렉 기타 is widely used for an electric guitar, alongside 전자기타. 클래식 기타 names a classical guitar. These labels help when looking for lessons, instruments or videos, because a plain 기타 search may include several kinds.
베이스 기타 is a bass guitar. In a band conversation, 베이스 alone may refer to the bass instrument or its role. A person asking who plays 기타 may be distinguishing the guitarist from the bassist, even though both instrument names can contain 기타.
기타 줄 means guitar strings, and 기타 코드 means guitar chords. A beginner looking up 코드 is usually trying to form or read a chord rather than looking for a computer code. The music setting gives that borrowed word its meaning too.
Where Will You See 기타?
A music school may advertise 기타 레슨, “guitar lessons”. An event listing may name a guitar player’s role with 기타 next to their name. In a song tutorial, 기타 반주 means guitar accompaniment: playing that supports a voice or another musical part.
A registration form may also end a list with 기타. That use means “other”, even on a form about music. If the choices are instrument categories and 기타 is ambiguous, read the heading and neighbouring options. A text field for additional details often makes the “other” meaning clear.
In hobby talk, 기타 쳐요 is a natural short answer meaning “I play guitar”. The object marker 를 can be left out when the instrument’s role is obvious. The fuller 기타를 쳐요 is useful when first learning the sentence pattern; both fit an ordinary conversation.
Words for a First Guitar Lesson
| Korean | Meaning | One-line note |
|---|---|---|
| 악기 | musical instrument | The category that includes guitars and pianos. |
| 줄 | string | In 기타 줄, it names the instrument’s strings. |
| 코드 | chord | A common term in beginner guitar materials. |
| 반주 | accompaniment | Music played to support a singer or another part. |
The music vocabulary lesson teaches the wider instrument set. Pair the instrument name with its usual playing verb: 기타를 치다 is more useful for introducing your hobby than the noun 기타 on its own.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 기타를 치다 mean to hit the guitar body?
- Which phrase names guitar accompaniment?
- A form ends with a miscellaneous option labelled 기타. What does it mean there?
Show answers
- No. It is the ordinary phrase for playing guitar.
- 기타 반주.
- Other, rather than the instrument.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "guitar" in Korean?
Say 기타 (gita).
Which verb means "play guitar"?
Use 치다, as in 기타를 치다.
Is there another 기타?
Yes. 기타 (其他) means "other" or "etc." and appears on forms.
What is an electric guitar?
It is 전자기타.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: hobbies music vocabulary groups 기타 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add it to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Other music pages include piano and janggu drum.