Key Facts
- Hangul: 스키; Revised Romanization: seuki
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Loanword (no hanja)
- Register: Neutral loanword.
Ski in Korean: What Does 스키 Mean?
스키 is a neutral loanword for both the equipment and the sport. English splits "ski" and "skiing" into two words; Korean uses one noun for both. Related nouns, such as 스키장 and 스키복, build on it.
How Do You Pronounce 스키?
Say seu-ki. The first syllable has the short, unrounded "eu" vowel, not the "ee" of English "ski". The second is a clear "kee".
Example Sentences with 스키
겨울에 스키를 타요.
Gyeoure seukireul tayo.
I ski in winter.
겨울에 스키를 타요 sets the season with 겨울, "winter". The verb 타요 is "ride".
스키를 처음 배워요.
Seukireul cheoeum baewoyo.
I am learning skiing for the first time.
스키를 처음 배워요 stresses a beginner. 처음 means "for the first time" and 배워요 is "learn".
스키장에 가고 싶어요.
Seukijange gago sipeoyo.
I want to go to a ski resort.
스키장에 가고 싶어요 uses 스키장 for the resort and 가고 싶어요 for "want to go".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 스키를 타다 | ski |
| 스키장 | ski resort |
| 스키복 | ski wear |
The Mistake to Avoid
English speakers squeeze the word into one syllable, the way "ski" sounds in English.
Wrong: "ski" said as one syllable
Correct: [seu-ki], two syllables, with a short ㅡ in the first
The verb matters too. 스키를 타다, literally "ride skis", is the standard phrase.
Casual: 스키를 하다 is heard in relaxed speech, but it sounds less natural than 스키를 타다.
스키 Compared with Similar Words
Winter and ice sports have their own words. 스노보드 is snowboard and 스케이트 is skate. Each takes its own noun, but all three pair with 타다 as a riding sport.
| Word | Meaning | Versus ski |
|---|---|---|
| 스키 | ski | This page's word |
| 스노보드 | snowboard | snowboard |
| 스케이트 | skate | skate |
Where Does the Word Come From?
스키 is a loanword with no hanja. Its compounds, including 스키장 for the resort, are written as one word. 스키복 is ski wear. Compare the verb phrase 스키를 타다, which is the action, with 스키장, which is the place: the first needs a verb and the second takes 에 for the destination.
Renting Equipment for a First Ski Lesson
A first-time skier visits a rental counter. The staff member checks experience and then asks for the boot size, a practical question before a lesson.
Customer
스키 빌리고 싶어요.
Seuki billigo sipeoyo.
I would like to rent skis.
Staff
스키는 처음이세요?
Seukineun cheoeumiseyo?
Is this your first time skiing?
Customer
네. 오늘 처음 배워요.
Ne. Oneul cheoeum baewoyo.
Yes. I am learning for the first time today.
Staff
부츠 사이즈가 어떻게 되세요?
Bucheu saijeuga eotteoke doeseyo?
What is your boot size?
빌리고 싶어요 expresses the wish to borrow or rent. At a rental counter, renting is the natural interpretation. 처음이세요 is a polite question about whether something is a first experience. The customer’s answer uses 배워요, “learn”, which gives staff more information than simply saying they are going to the resort.
Which Expressions Help You Plan a Ski Day?
스키를 타다 names the activity, while 스키를 배우다 means learning to ski. A person can go to a 스키장 without skiing, for example to accompany someone. Use the action phrase when you want to make clear what you will do at the destination.
스키 강습 means ski lessons or instruction. 강습 identifies the organized teaching, rather than casual practice alone. 스키 강사 means a ski instructor, the person doing the teaching. These phrases help you distinguish a lesson reservation from a request to rent equipment.
스키 대여 means ski rental. 대여 is a noun you can find on signs or booking pages, while 빌리다 is the everyday verb used in the dialogue. Neither expression tells you exactly which items are included. A rental listing may separate skis, boots and clothing, so read the named items before choosing a package.
Where Will You See 스키 Vocabulary?
At a resort, 스키장 identifies the skiing venue. A 대여소 is a rental station, and a 매표소 is a ticket office. These places answer different needs: equipment and tickets. Recognizing the ending 소 as part of these place names helps you locate the right counter.
Slope maps and lesson descriptions may use 초급, 중급 and 고급 for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. These are level labels, rather than names for different kinds of skis. In a lesson booking, 초급 tells you the intended experience level of the learner.
The noun 스키 stays the same when you speak politely. In the dialogue, the staff member adds respect through 처음이세요 and 되세요. Equipment labels usually have no polite ending because they name an item or service. A short sign saying 스키 대여 is a label, while the customer’s sentence is a request.
스키를 잘 타다 means to ski well. 잘 describes skill here, rather than how often someone goes skiing. 스키를 자주 타다 means to ski often, with 자주 expressing frequency. A person can go often and still be learning, so choose the phrase that answers the question about ability or routine.
Words around the Slopes and Rental Counter
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 스키 부츠 | ski boots | The footwear that fits into the bindings. |
| 헬멧 | helmet | Equipment named separately from skis. |
| 리프트 | ski lift | Takes skiers up the slope. |
| 슬로프 | slope / ski run | Appears on resort maps and level descriptions. |
| 장갑 | gloves | Clothing for the hands; separate from 스키복. |
The sports vocabulary lesson connects 스키 with other activities. Keep the nouns for the activity, the venue and the equipment separate when describing a trip: a lesson, a lift ticket and a rental are different parts of the day.
Quick Self-Test
- Which verb normally pairs with 스키 for the activity?
- Does 스키 대여 mean a ski lesson?
- Which word names the venue: 스키복 or 스키장?
Show answers
- 타다: 스키를 타다.
- No. It means ski rental; 스키 강습 is ski instruction.
- 스키장. 스키복 means ski wear.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "ski" in Korean?
Say 스키 (seuki).
How do you say "go skiing"?
Say 스키를 타다, "ride skis".
What is a ski resort called?
It is called 스키장.
What is ski wear?
The word is 스키복.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: hobbies sports vocabulary places ski among related words.
- Index: more words after ski are in Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: save ski in the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next to read: the page for soccer.