Key Facts
- Hangul: 샴푸; Revised Romanization: syampu
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: loanword from English
- Register: Neutral everyday loanword.
Shampoo in Korean: What Does 샴푸 Mean?
샴푸 is hair shampoo, borrowed from English and fitted to Korean sounds. It is used for the bottle in your bathroom and for the product in a shop. The washing verb is not 씻다 but 감다, which is used for hair, so you "wash hair" with a different word than you would use for hands or a face.
How Do You Pronounce 샴푸?
Two syllables: syam-pu. The first has the y glide after s, so it sounds like "shyam" with a light sh. The m closes the syllable and the lips open again for p, which is aspirated, giving a small puff of air. The final ㅜ is a rounded u. Stress both syllables evenly.
Example Sentences with 샴푸
샴푸가 다 떨어졌어요.
Syampuga da tteoreojyeosseoyo.
The shampoo has run out.
The verb 떨어졌어요 means that the supply has run out, and 다 adds "all" for emphasis.
샴푸로 머리를 감아요.
Syampuro meorireul gamayo.
I wash my hair with shampoo.
로 marks shampoo as the means, and 머리 is hair. The verb 감아요 is the right one for washing hair.
이 샴푸는 향이 좋아요.
I syampuneun hyangi joayo.
This shampoo smells good.
An opinion about the scent: 향이 좋아요 says the fragrance is good. 이 points to the bottle you are holding.
Phrases and Collocations with 샴푸
The partners are everyday shopping and bathroom phrases. A counter noun gives the bottle, and the last entry sets shampoo next to conditioner.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 샴푸로 감다 | to wash with shampoo |
| 샴푸 향 | shampoo scent |
| 샴푸 한 통 | a bottle of shampoo |
| 샴푸와 린스 | shampoo and conditioner |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 삼푸 or 샴프
Correct: ✓ 샴푸
Why: The standard spelling is 샴푸. Dropping the y glide (삼푸) or ending in ㅡ (샴프) copies the English sound badly. Also use 머리를 감다 for washing hair, not 씻다.
샴푸 Compared with Similar Words
Hair care has more than one word. The neighbours below show which product is which.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 린스 | conditioner | The long-standing everyday word; labels also use 컨디셔너 and 트리트먼트. |
| 비누 | soap | Bar or liquid soap for the body or hands. |
Where Does 샴푸 Come From?
샴푸 is a loanword from English, so it has no hanja and no native roots. Loanwords are written in Hangul to match their sound, and 샴 is how Korean spells the "sham" of the English word.
At a Hotel: the Shampoo Dispenser Is Empty
A guest calls the front desk after finding an empty shampoo dispenser in the bathroom.
Guest
욕실에 샴푸가 없어요.
Yoksire syampuga eopseoyo.
There is no shampoo in the bathroom.
Staff
샴푸를 가져다드릴게요.
Syampureul gajyeodadeurilgeyo.
I’ll bring you some shampoo.
Guest
린스도 받을 수 있어요?
Rinseudo badeul su isseoyo?
Could I have some conditioner too?
Staff
네, 같이 가져다드릴게요.
Ne, gachi gajyeodadeurilgeyo.
Yes, I’ll bring it together with the shampoo.
The guest reports what is missing with 샴푸가 없어요. The staff’s reply uses 샴푸를 because the shampoo is now the thing being brought. 도 in 린스도 means “also”, so the second request builds naturally on the first.
Buying a Bottle or a Refill
샴푸 한 통 is a container of shampoo. 통 is useful when discussing a whole bottle without focusing on its shape. To ask for two containers, change the number to 두 통. The product name stays the same; the number goes before the counter.
리필 means refill. On a shelf, 샴푸 리필 identifies a refill pack rather than a new pump bottle. If you are buying shampoo for a hotel stay, check the packaging as well as the product name: a refill pouch may be less convenient than a small bottle.
샴푸를 짜다 means to squeeze out shampoo. 샴푸를 헹구다 means to rinse the shampoo out. The product is the object in both expressions. These phrases describe different parts of washing, while 머리를 감다 names the whole action of washing your hair.
샴푸가 다 떨어졌어요 is a set expression for running out of the product. In this bathroom context, 떨어지다 describes an exhausted supply. It does not mean that the shampoo bottle has fallen onto the floor. The phrase is useful when explaining why you need to buy or request more.
Where You Will Hear 샴푸
At a hair salon, 샴푸 can refer to the hair-washing service as well as the product. 샴푸해 드릴게요 means “I’ll wash your hair for you”. A stylist saying this is describing the next step of the appointment. They are not offering you a bottle to take home.
In hotel bathrooms, 샴푸, 린스 and 바디워시 identify different dispensers. The English-looking loanwords still need to be read carefully in Hangul. 바디워시 is body wash; 린스 is conditioner. Their position on the wall alone does not tell you which bottle is shampoo.
On product labels, 두피 means scalp and 모발 means hair. A description can focus on either one. 향 means scent, as in the existing example 이 샴푸는 향이 좋아요. That sentence praises the fragrance without saying anything about how well the product cleans.
Related Bathroom and Hair Words
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 머리카락 | hair | Names the strands; 머리 can also mean the head. |
| 두피 | scalp | Useful when reading hair-care descriptions. |
| 거품 | foam; lather | The bubbles made while washing. |
| 수건 | towel | What you ask for after washing. |
The bathroom vocabulary lesson groups shampoo with the things around it. For a shopping request, name the product. For an account of your morning routine, 머리를 감다 is the useful action phrase.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 리필 tell you about shampoo packaging?
- In 샴푸가 다 떨어졌어요, has the bottle necessarily fallen?
- Which expression describes washing your hair?
Show answers
- It is a refill pack.
- No. The sentence says the shampoo supply has run out.
- 머리를 감다.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say shampoo in Korean?
Say 샴푸 (syampu). It is an English loanword written in Hangul.
Which verb goes with 샴푸 for washing hair?
Use 감다, as in 머리를 감다. Do not use 씻다 for hair.
What is the Korean word for conditioner?
The everyday word is 린스. Product labels also use 컨디셔너, and 트리트먼트 for richer treatments.
How do you say "the shampoo ran out"?
Say 샴푸가 다 떨어졌어요.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: bathroom vocabulary collects shampoo with other bathroom words.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add it to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Contrast: the page for soap covers body and hand soap.
- Next in the list: the page for toilet.