Key Facts
- Hangul: 제주도; Revised Romanization: jejudo
- Part of speech: proper noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 濟州島 (濟 cross + 州 province + 島 island)
- Register: neutral proper noun; often just called 제주
Jeju Island in Korean: What Does 제주도 Mean?
제주도 names Jeju Island, Korea's largest island, off the southern coast. The same name is also used for the province that covers the island. The short form 제주 is common for both, and it appears in product names such as 제주 감귤, Jeju tangerines. The volcano at the centre of the island is 한라산 (Hallasan).
How Do You Pronounce 제주도?
Three syllables, je-ju-do, with no final consonants. The ㅈ sounds are soft, close to a light j, and the ㄷ is a soft d. Each syllable gets roughly equal weight.
Example Sentences with 제주도
제주도는 한국에서 가장 큰 섬이에요.
Jejudoneun hangugeseo gajang keun seomieyo
Jejudo is the biggest island in Korea.
가장 큰 섬 means "the biggest island", and 한국에서 sets the scope: in Korea.
휴가 때 제주도에 갔어요.
Hyuga ttae jejudoe gasseoyo
I went to Jejudo on vacation.
휴가 때 means "during vacation", and 갔어요 is the past tense of "go".
제주도 날씨는 따뜻해요.
Jejudo nalssineun ttatteutaeyo
The weather on Jejudo is warm.
제주도 날씨 means "Jeju weather", and 따뜻해요 means "is warm".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 제주도 여행 | trip to Jejudo |
| 제주도에 가다 | to go to Jejudo |
| 제주 감귤 | Jeju tangerine |
| 제주도 날씨 | Jejudo weather |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: 제주도섬, adding 섬 to the complete place name.
Correct: 제주도, or simply 제주. The 도 in the name already means island. 제주섬 also appears in descriptive writing, including the Jeju Tourism Organization’s history page. Learn 제주도 as the standard place name without treating every descriptive use of 제주섬 as an error.
제주도 Compared with Similar Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 제주도 | Jeju Island | This page's word: the island by name |
| 제주 | Jeju (short form) | Used for both the island and the province |
| 섬 | island | The general word; 제주도 already contains 도 (island) |
| 한라산 | Hallasan | The volcano at the centre of Jejudo |
Where Does the Word Come From?
제주도 is the Korean reading of 濟州島: 濟 (cross), 州 (province) and 島 (island).
Cultural Note
Jejudo is known for Hallasan and for its haenyeo, the women divers who harvest seafood by free diving. Their culture was added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in 2016.
Arranging a Meeting at Jeju Airport
A visitor calls a friend after arriving. The friend needs a specific meeting point, rather than only the name of the island.
Visitor
제주도에 도착했어요.
Jejudoe dochakhaesseoyo.
I’ve arrived on Jeju Island.
Friend
지금 공항에 있어요?
Jigeum gonghange isseoyo?
Are you at the airport now?
Visitor
네. 어디에서 만나요?
Ne. Eodieseo mannayo?
Yes. Where shall we meet?
Friend
공항 입구에서 만나요.
Gonghang ipgueseo mannayo.
Let’s meet at the airport entrance.
제주도에 도착했어요 uses 에 for the arrival point. 공항 입구에서 uses 에서 for the place where the meeting happens. The polite present 만나요 can make a suggestion here. The two speakers know which airport they mean, so they do not repeat 제주 in every line.
How Do 제주, 제주도 and 제주시 Differ?
제주도 names the island; 제주 is a shorter place name used in conversation and in names of products and services. 제주시 means Jeju City. A hotel address containing 제주시 gives a city on the island, rather than naming the whole island as a city. 서귀포시 is Seogwipo City, another city on Jeju.
This distinction matters when someone says their accommodation is “in Jeju”. The broad name alone does not tell you whether you are staying in Jeju City or elsewhere on the island. Look for the city and the rest of the address before arranging a meeting. In a travel conversation, the fuller place name answers a more precise question.
Phrases on Travel Searches and Local Products
제주도 여행 names a trip to the island. 제주행 means “bound for Jeju”, with 행 marking the destination on transport information. The phrase describes the direction of a service. 제주 출발 means departure from Jeju, so a flight search containing those words starts on the island rather than taking you there.
제주 감귤 names Jeju tangerines. Here 제주 describes the origin or regional association of the fruit; the phrase does not name a different island. The shorter 제주 is especially useful to recognize on product labels, where it can appear before a food name without 도.
제주도 날씨 is the weather on Jeju. A general example describing warm weather is useful language practice, but it does not describe every day or season. For a particular outing, a forecast supplies the conditions. Keep the place-name phrase separate from the actual weather description that follows it.
Words for Talking about Your Stay
| Related word | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 공항 | airport | A starting point for arrival and meeting plans. |
| 숙소 | accommodation | A broad word for where you are staying. |
| 해변 | beach | A coastal destination, rather than the entire island. |
| 감귤 | tangerine | The fruit named in 제주 감귤. |
| 해녀 | woman diver | A cultural word connected with Jeju’s diving tradition. |
The Korean cities and places lesson helps you distinguish a city name from a wider destination. The separate word 섬 lets you describe other islands without assuming that every island name ends in 도.
제주도 itself is neutral and has no special polite version. In the dialogue, respect is carried by 도착했어요 and 만나요. Keeping the place name unchanged works when talking with a friend, a hotel employee or a driver; choose an appropriate sentence ending for the listener.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 제주시 name the whole island or a city?
- Is a 제주행 service heading to Jeju or leaving it?
- Which word means accommodation?
Show answers
- It names Jeju City.
- It is heading to Jeju.
- 숙소.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "Jeju Island" in Korean?
Say 제주도 (jejudo).
What is the short form of 제주도?
The short form is 제주, used for both the island and the province.
Can I say 제주섬?
제주도 is the standard place name to learn. 제주섬 also occurs in descriptions of the island; it is not automatically wrong.
What are Jeju tangerines called?
They are called 제주 감귤.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean cities and places lists 제주도 beside other places.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- The general word: island in Korean.