Key Facts
- Hangul: 노래; Revised Romanization: norae
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native
- Register: Neutral; 노래하다 and 노래를 부르다 both mean to sing.
Song in Korean: What Does 노래 Mean?
노래 covers both "song" and "singing", so one word names the piece and the act. The register is neutral. Two verbs mean "to sing": 노래하다 and 노래를 부르다. That matters because 노래 itself is a noun, not a verb.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Two syllables: no-rae. The vowel ㅐ in the last syllable is like the "e" in "bet".
Example Sentences with 노래
저는 노래를 좋아해요.
jeoneun noraereul joahaeyo.
I like songs.
좋아해요 is "like", and 노래를 is the object. The English "songs" is plural, but Korean needs no plural marker.
이 노래 제목이 뭐예요?
i norae jemogi mwoyeyo?
What is the title of this song?
제목 is "title" and 뭐예요 asks "what is it". Use this question when a song is playing and you want its name.
친구가 노래를 잘 불러요.
chinguga noraereul jal bulleoyo.
My friend sings well.
불러요 is the polite form of the verb used in 노래를 부르다. 잘 means "well", so the sentence praises a friend's singing.
Common Phrases and Collocations
The three phrases show the verbs that go with the noun: 부르다 to sing, 듣다 to listen, and 노래방, the karaoke room.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 노래를 부르다 | sing a song |
| 노래를 듣다 | listen to a song |
| 노래방 | karaoke room |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners reach for a verb that means "say", or try to use the noun on its own.
Wrong: 노래를 말하다, or a bare 노래 used as the verb
Correct: 노래를 부르다 or 노래하다, as in 친구가 노래를 잘 불러요
노래 Compared with Similar Words
음악 is "music" in general, while 노래 is a song, something with a singer. 가수 is the singer. If a friend asks what you listen to, 음악 fits; if you mean one track, say 노래.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 노래 | song | This page's word |
| 음악 | music | music |
| 가수 | singer | singer |
Where Does the Word Come From?
노래 is a native Korean word, so it has no hanja.
Choosing a Song at Karaoke
Two coworkers are choosing a song in a karaoke room. One recognizes the track on the screen but is not ready to sing it.
Jisu
이 노래 알아요?
I norae arayo?
Do you know this song?
Alex
네, 자주 들어요.
Ne, jaju deureoyo.
Yes, I listen to it often.
Jisu
그럼 같이 부를까요?
Geureom gachi bureulkkayo?
Then shall we sing it together?
Alex
좋아요. 그런데 가사를 잘 몰라요.
Joayo. Geureonde gasareul jal mollayo.
Sure. But I don’t know the lyrics very well.
Knowing a song and knowing its lyrics are different things. 가사 means lyrics, while 노래 names the song. 부를까요 suggests singing together; the noun is left out because both speakers know which song is on the screen. 같이 means “together”.
Common Song Phrases beyond “to Sing”
노래를 잘하다 means to be good at singing. It describes ability rather than naming one successful performance. The existing example 친구가 노래를 잘 불러요 also praises a friend’s singing. In both expressions, 잘 means “well”, so the praise concerns the singing rather than the quality of the song itself.
노래 한 곡 means one song. 곡 is the counter used for songs and musical pieces, so 한 곡 더 means one more song. At karaoke, that can be a request to sing another track; in a playlist discussion, it can mean adding another song. The activity around the phrase supplies the intended action.
노래가 나오다 literally says that a song “comes out”. In a cafe or a scene with a radio, it means a song is playing. In a conversation about a singer’s new work, it can mean that a song is released. Look at whether the discussion concerns sound in the room or a new release.
Where Will You Hear or See 노래?
In a cafe, 이 노래 제목이 뭐예요 asks for the title of the track currently playing. 제목 means title, so the question asks for the name of the song. If you want the person performing it, 가수 is the word for singer. A title and an artist name are different pieces of information.
노래방 signs identify karaoke venues. 방 means room, so the compound literally suggests a singing room. Inside, song lists and search screens help you select a track. The word names the place; it does not mean the song itself or the act of singing.
In music discussions, 노래 is the everyday word for a song, while 곡 can refer more broadly to a musical piece. 음악 covers music as a whole, including instrumental music. A piano piece without singing is therefore easier to describe as a 곡 than as a 노래. This distinction helps when talking about a soundtrack with both vocal and instrumental tracks.
Words for Finding the Track You Want
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 제목 | title | Identifies the song by name. |
| 가사 | lyrics | The words that are sung. |
| 가수 | singer | Identifies the performer rather than the song. |
| 곡 | musical piece / song counter | Used in 노래 한 곡, one song. |
The music vocabulary lesson teaches the wider set for discussing performances and listening. When asking about a track, decide whether you need its title, lyrics or singer; 노래 can introduce the topic, and these words make the question more precise.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 가사 name: the singer or the words of a song?
- What does 노래 한 곡 mean?
- In a cafe, what can 노래가 나오다 mean?
Show answers
- The lyrics, or words of the song.
- One song; 곡 is the counter.
- A song is playing over a speaker, radio or similar source.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "song" in Korean?
Say 노래 (norae).
How do you say "to sing"?
Say 노래를 부르다 or 노래하다.
What is 노래방?
It is a karaoke room.
Is 노래 the same as 음악?
No. 노래 is a song, and 음악 is music.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: the music words page groups 노래 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 노래 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Compare with the page for music.
- Compare with the page for singer.