Key Facts
- Hangul: 갈비; Revised Romanization: galbi
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral; refers to ribs, usually beef short ribs or pork ribs in dishes like 갈비찜.
Ribs in Korean: What Does 갈비 Mean?
갈비 means ribs. It is a native Korean word, neutral, and it usually points to beef short ribs or pork ribs in dishes such as 갈비찜. The word covers the cut and the dishes made from it.
How Do You Pronounce 갈비?
Two syllables, gal-bi. The ㄹ at the end of 갈 is a clear l, with the tongue tip resting behind the upper teeth, before the b of the next syllable.
Example Sentences with 갈비
갈비를 구워 먹어요.
Galbireul guwo meogeoyo.
We grill and eat ribs.
굽다 is to grill, and 구워 먹어요 means grill and eat. This is a table-grill sentence.
갈비 이 인분 주세요.
Galbi i inbun juseyo.
Two servings of ribs, please.
이 인분 means two servings, a standard way to order meat by the portion. 주세요 is please give me.
할머니가 갈비찜을 만드셨어요.
Halmeoniga galbijjimeul mandeusyeosseoyo.
My grandmother made braised ribs.
갈비찜 is braised ribs, a dish for family gatherings. 만드셨어요 is the honorific past of make, used here for a grandmother.
Common Phrases and Collocations
The list separates the cooking verb from the cuts and the dishes.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 갈비를 굽다 | to grill ribs |
| 소갈비 | beef ribs |
| 돼지갈비 | pork ribs |
| 갈비찜 | braised ribs |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: assuming 갈비 always means beef.
Correct: 갈비 can be beef (소갈비) or pork (돼지갈비). When the menu matters, use the full word.
갈비 Compared with Similar Words
Three other meat dishes sit near 갈비 on a menu.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 갈비 | ribs | Rib cuts, often marinated and grilled |
| 불고기 | bulgogi | Thin boneless slices of marinated beef |
| 삼겹살 | pork belly | Layered pork belly, not rib meat |
| 갈비탕 | rib soup | A clear soup made by simmering ribs |
At a Barbecue Restaurant: Choosing the Meat
A diner is checking the meat before ordering. The server identifies it as pork ribs, and the diner orders two portions.
Diner
이 갈비는 돼지고기예요?
I galbineun dwaejigogiyeyo?
Are these ribs pork?
Server
네, 돼지갈비예요.
Ne, dwaejigalbiyeyo.
Yes, they’re pork ribs.
Diner
그럼 이 인분 주세요.
Geureom i inbun juseyo.
Then two servings, please.
Server
네, 알겠습니다.
Ne, algetseumnida.
Certainly.
The question asks which meat is being served rather than how it is cooked. 그럼 means “then” or “in that case”, linking the choice to the server's answer. 이 인분 requests two portions; it does not mean two individual rib bones.
How Do You Read 갈비 on a Menu?
소갈비 and 돼지갈비 identify the animal. 갈비찜 and 갈비탕 identify dishes. Look at the whole name: a menu containing 갈비 does not necessarily offer meat to cook on a tabletop grill. The final part of the word may tell you that you are ordering soup or a braised dish.
양념갈비 means seasoned or marinated ribs. 양념 refers to seasoning, so the word tells you about preparation. 생갈비 commonly contrasts with 양념갈비 on barbecue menus and refers to unseasoned ribs for grilling. Even though 생 can mean “raw”, a barbecue menu is not telling you to eat these ribs uncooked.
갈비 by itself does not specify a universal sauce. A marinated version and a plain grilled version can both be 갈비. The cut, the animal and the seasoning are separate pieces of information; a detailed menu name may give you all three.
Portions and Cooking Words
인분 is a serving measured for one person. 이 인분 means two servings, using the Sino-Korean number 이. A restaurant's listed portion weight is a better guide to the amount than counting bones, because rib cuts and serving styles differ. Check the menu for any minimum order too.
갈비를 굽다 is the literal combination “grill ribs”. 갈비를 구워 먹다 adds eating after grilling, as in the first example. 갈비찜 names a braised dish instead, so ordering it does not usually start a conversation about grilling your own meat.
갈비탕 is a soup dish, and 갈비찜 is a braised dish. When you are discussing lunch options, these complete names are more useful than 갈비 alone. They tell your companion which kind of meal you mean, rather than only which cut of meat.
On an English menu, “galbi” often keeps the Korean food name. In a Korean order, use 갈비 and add the animal or dish name when the menu offers several versions.
Nearby Words for a Barbecue Meal
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 소고기 | beef | Names the meat more broadly than the cut 소갈비. |
| 돼지고기 | pork | Helps you ask which animal a dish uses. |
| 양념 | seasoning; marinade | Describes flavouring rather than an animal or cut. |
| 인분 | serving per person | Appears beside the quantity when ordering meat. |
| 뼈 | bone | A different word from the rib cut as a dish. |
The Korean dish vocabulary lesson puts 갈비 alongside other meal names. Compare the words on the menu before ordering: 불고기 is usually thin sliced beef, while 삼겹살 identifies pork belly. Neither becomes 갈비 simply because it is cooked on a grill.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 갈비 always mean beef?
- Does 이 인분 mean two rib bones?
- Which menu item is soup: 갈비탕 or 갈비찜?
Show answers
- No. 소갈비 is beef ribs and 돼지갈비 is pork ribs.
- No. It means two servings.
- 갈비탕 is soup; 갈비찜 is braised ribs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say ribs in Korean?
Ribs in Korean is 갈비 (galbi). It names the cut and the dishes made from it, usually beef short ribs or pork ribs, grilled or braised.
How do you say beef ribs?
Say 소갈비, with 소 (cow) in front. Pork ribs are 돼지갈비, with 돼지 (pig) in front.
What is 갈비탕?
갈비탕 is rib soup: beef ribs simmered into a clear, mild broth and served with rice.
What is 갈비찜?
갈비찜 is braised ribs, simmered in a sweet soy-based sauce until tender. It is a typical dish for holidays and family gatherings.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean dish words groups 갈비 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists every single-word page.
- Practice: add ribs in Korean to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list: rice.
- Compare with bulgogi and pork belly.