Key Facts
- Hangul: 넥타이; Revised Romanization: nektai
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Loanword from English
- Register: Neutral; the usual word for a necktie in business and school uniforms.
Necktie in Korean: What Does 넥타이 Mean?
넥타이 is the necktie, worn for business, school uniforms and formal events. It is a loanword from English, so it sounds familiar, and its register is neutral. A bow tie is 나비넥타이, literally a butterfly tie, and a tie pin is 넥타이핀.
The useful detail is the verb. You do not wear a tie like a shirt. Korean says you tie it, 넥타이를 매다, and you loosen it or take it off with 넥타이를 풀다. A scarf is a different item and uses a different word, 스카프.
How Do You Pronounce It?
넥타이 has three syllables, nek-ta-i. The first syllable ends in ㄱ, which is unreleased, so the word starts on a short, closed "nek". The ㅌ in the second syllable is aspirated, like a t with a breath of air.
The final two syllables are a plain ta and i. The vowel ㅔ sounds a lot like the "e" in "net", so the word is not far from English "necktie".
Listen to the headword here.
Example Sentences with 넥타이
아버지는 넥타이를 매요.
Abeojineun nektaireul maeyo.
My father wears a necktie.
아버지는 means "as for my father", and 매요 is the polite form of tie. The verb tells you the habit is putting a tie on.
이 넥타이는 선물이에요.
I nektaineun seonmurieyo.
This necktie is a gift.
선물이에요 means it is a gift. The 이 here points at the nearby tie, and the sentence suits the moment you hand one over.
면접 때는 넥타이를 매는 게 좋아요.
Myeonjeop ttaeneun nektaireul maeneun ge joayo.
It is good to wear a tie at an interview.
때 marks the time of the interview. 매는 게 좋아요 says tying one is good, a mild piece of advice.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Pay attention to the verbs in these phrases, since they carry the lesson.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 넥타이를 매다 | to wear/tie a necktie |
| 넥타이를 풀다 | to loosen/take off a necktie |
| 넥타이핀 | tie pin |
| 나비넥타이 | bow tie |
The Mistake to Avoid
- Wrong: Using 입다 or 쓰다 with 넥타이.
- Correct: The verb is 매다 (to tie, to fasten). Taking it off is 풀다 (to loosen, to untie).
Korean picks the verb by how the item is put on, not by the item being clothing. Tying belongs to ties, belts and shoelaces.
넥타이 Compared with 나비넥타이 and 스카프
Two items are close to a tie in meaning or shape.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 넥타이 | necktie | The ordinary tie. |
| 나비넥타이 | bow tie | Literally a butterfly tie. |
| 스카프 | scarf | A scarf, not a tie. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
넥타이 is a loanword from the English "necktie", adapted to Korean spelling. Loanwords like this one are usually easy to remember but need the right verb.
Choosing a Tie before an Interview
Two housemates check an outfit before one leaves for an interview. They discuss the tie’s appearance and whether it goes with the shirt.
Minho
이 넥타이 어때요?
I nektai eottaeyo?
How is this tie?
Jisu
좋아요. 셔츠하고 잘 어울려요.
Joayo. Syeocheuhago jal eoullyeoyo.
It looks good. It goes well with the shirt.
Minho
그럼 이 넥타이를 맬게요.
Geureom i nektaireul maelgeyo.
Then I’ll wear this tie.
어울려요 describes how well the tie suits or matches the shirt. 맬게요 expresses the speaker’s decision to put it on. The noun stays 넥타이, and 를 marks it as the item being fastened.
Phrases for Choosing and Adjusting a Tie
넥타이를 고르다 means to choose a tie. In a shop, the choice may concern color, pattern or width. 무늬 있는 넥타이 is a patterned tie, while 줄무늬 넥타이 specifically has stripes. The added word tells you which visible feature the speaker is choosing.
넥타이를 매다 covers tying or wearing it. 넥타이를 풀다 means loosening or untying it, so a character doing this after work may simply be relaxing the knot. The phrase alone does not guarantee that the tie has been completely removed.
넥타이 매는 법 means “how to tie a tie”. You will meet it in tutorials and video titles. 법 here means a method or way, rather than a law. The expression is about making the knot, while an outfit discussion may focus on whether the tie matches.
Why Does the Spelling 매다 Matter?
매다 means to tie or fasten, and 메다 means to carry something over the shoulder. Their everyday pronunciations can sound alike, but the written verbs identify different actions. Pair 넥타이 with 매다 and a shoulder-carried bag with 메다. Remembering the object helps you choose the spelling.
In 넥타이를 매고 있어요, the speaker may be describing someone who has a tie on already. The phrase can describe the resulting state of wearing it, rather than the person's hands actively forming the knot. Context tells you which stage you are seeing.
Where Will You See 넥타이?
넥타이 appears on clothing-shop categories, formalwear displays and outfit advice. 나비넥타이 identifies a bow tie by its butterfly shape. 넥타이핀 names the accessory that holds a tie in place. A product listing may shorten the item to 타이, but 넥타이 is the full everyday headword to learn first.
The interview example above gives advice for a particular situation. It does not make ties a universal requirement for every interview. Read any clothing instructions supplied for the event, and use the vocabulary to understand the requested outfit.
| Korean | Meaning | How it connects to a tie |
|---|---|---|
| 셔츠 | shirt | The tie is matched with the shirt. |
| 정장 | suit; formal attire | The broader outfit around the tie. |
| 줄무늬 | stripes | A common way to describe a tie's pattern. |
| 매듭 | knot | The tied part at the collar. |
The clothing vocabulary lesson teaches garments and accessories together, so you can describe the whole outfit.
Quick Self-Test
- Which spelling fits a tie: 매다 or 메다?
- Does 넥타이를 풀다 always mean removing the tie completely?
- What does 법 mean in 넥타이 매는 법?
Show answers
- 매다, to tie or fasten.
- No. It can mean loosening or untying it.
- A way or method: how to tie a tie.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say necktie in Korean?
Say 넥타이 (nektai).
Which verb goes with 넥타이?
매다, to tie or fasten, as in 넥타이를 매다.
How do you say "take off a tie"?
Use 넥타이를 풀다, which means to loosen or untie it.
What is a bow tie called?
나비넥타이, literally a butterfly tie.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: clothing vocabulary. 넥타이 is part of the clothing vocabulary list.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 넥타이 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next: the word for pants. Next on the clothing list is the word for pants.