Key Facts
- Hangul: 소파; Revised Romanization: sopa
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: loanword
- Register: Neutral everyday loanword.
Sofa in Korean: What Does 소파 Mean?
소파 has two English glosses, "sofa" and "couch", and both name the same piece of furniture. The register is neutral and everyday, so you can use it with friends, family or a shop assistant. It is a loanword, which is why the sound looks like the English word.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Two syllables, so-pa. The ㅍ begins the second syllable with a puff of air. Keep the first syllable 소, with ㅗ, rather than adding the y sound in 쇼.
Example Sentences with 소파
소파에 앉아요.
sopae anjayo.
I sit on the sofa.
앉아요 is the polite present of "sit", and 에 marks the place where you sit. This is the sentence you will use most.
이 소파는 편해요.
i sopaneun pyeonhaeyo.
This sofa is comfortable.
편해요 means "is comfortable". The pattern "this X is Y" works for any piece of furniture you want to praise.
고양이가 소파에서 자요.
goyangiga sopaeseo jayo.
The cat sleeps on the sofa.
에서 marks where the action of sleeping happens. Compare 소파에 앉아요 in the first example, where 에 marks the place you sit down onto.
Common Phrases and Collocations
These four phrases combine 소파 with a verb, a material, a variant and an accessory.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 소파에 앉다 | to sit on the sofa |
| 가죽 소파 | leather sofa |
| 소파 베드 | sofa bed |
| 소파 쿠션 | sofa cushion |
The Mistake to Avoid
Many people, Koreans included, type the word with 쇼 from habit.
- Wrong: 쇼파
- Right: 소파
The standard spelling has plain 소 (ㅅ + ㅗ). Use it in writing and in search boxes.
소파 Compared with Similar Words
Two related words are also furniture. 의자 is a seat for one person, and 침대 is a bed for sleeping. A 소파 sits in between: several people can sit on it, and it may fold out as a 소파 베드.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 소파 | sofa | This page's word |
| 의자 | chair | A seat for one person. |
| 침대 | bed | A bed for sleeping. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
소파 is a loanword, so it has no hanja and no native Korean root.
Trying a Sofa in a Furniture Shop
A customer is looking at a display sofa. The assistant invites them to try it before they discuss the material.
Customer
이 소파에 앉아 봐도 돼요?
I sopae anja bwado dwaeyo?
May I try sitting on this sofa?
Assistant
네, 앉아 보세요.
Ne, anja boseyo.
Yes, please try it.
Customer
편하네요. 가죽 소파예요?
Pyeonhaneyo. Gajuk sopayeyo?
It’s comfortable. Is it a leather sofa?
Assistant
네, 가죽 소파예요.
Ne, gajuk sopayeyo.
Yes, it’s a leather sofa.
앉아 보다 means to try sitting. The customer asks permission with 도 돼요, and the assistant responds with 보세요, a polite invitation to try. 소파예요 means “it is a sofa”; after the vowel at the end of 소파, the ending is 예요.
What Do Furniture Labels Tell You?
가죽 소파 names the material: 가죽 is leather. 패브릭 소파 is a fabric sofa. Neither phrase tells you how many people can sit on it. For capacity, look for 인용, meaning “for this many people”, as in 2인용 소파, a two-seater sofa. The number describes intended seating capacity rather than the number of pieces delivered.
소파 베드 names a sofa that converts into a bed. 소파 쿠션 names a cushion associated with the sofa. These are literal combinations, so the second word tells you whether you are discussing a type of furniture or an accessory. A listing for cushions may show a whole sofa in the photograph while selling only the cushions.
소파 커버 means sofa cover. 커버 is another loanword, and it names the covering rather than a new sofa. When browsing secondhand furniture or home accessories, read the full item name before assuming the advertised object is the large piece in the picture.
Where Will You Hear 소파 at Home?
Hosts use 소파에 앉으세요 to invite a visitor to sit on the sofa. The noun itself stays neutral; the respectful invitation comes from the verb ending. With a guest, this is more welcoming than simply pointing and saying the furniture’s name.
For location, 소파에 있어요 means something or someone is on the sofa. For an activity, the existing example uses 소파에서 자요, “sleeps on the sofa”. English “on” therefore does not always correspond to one Korean particle. The verb helps you choose: a location with 있어요 uses 에, while the place of sleeping uses 에서.
소파 밑 means under the sofa, and 소파 옆 means beside it. These combinations are useful when looking for a remote control or describing a room. The position word follows 소파, so read the whole phrase before deciding where to look.
Words for Describing the Seating Area
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 거실 | living room | A common place to find a sofa. |
| 쿠션 | cushion | A separate accessory placed on a sofa. |
| 의자 | chair | Useful when offering an alternative seat. |
| 탁자 | table | Can describe a table beside or in front of the sofa. |
The furniture vocabulary lesson teaches the wider room set. Use 소파 for the seat and 거실 for the room; a furniture name and a room name answer different location questions.
Quick Self-Test
- Which is the standard spelling: 소파 or 쇼파?
- Does 2인용 소파 mean two separate sofas?
- What is being named in 소파 쿠션?
Show answers
- 소파.
- No. It means a sofa intended for two people.
- A sofa cushion, rather than the whole sofa.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "couch" in Korean?
The same word, 소파 (sopa). Korean uses one word for both.
How do you say "sit on the sofa"?
Say 소파에 앉다, or 소파에 앉아요 in polite speech.
Is 쇼파 correct?
No. 쇼파 is a common wrong spelling. Write 소파.
How do you say "sofa bed" in Korean?
Say 소파 베드.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: the furniture words page groups 소파 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 소파 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Compare with the page for chair when you need a seat for one person.
- Compare with the page for bed, the furniture for sleeping.