Key Facts
- Hangul: 세탁기; Revised Romanization: setakgi; pronounced [se-tak-kki]
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 洗濯機 (洗 wash + 濯 rinse + 機 machine)
- Register: neutral everyday word
Washing Machine in Korean: What Does 세탁기 Mean?
세탁기 is the appliance, the thing in the laundry room. The word is neutral and used by everyone. Its related terms are 세탁소, the shop where clothes are cleaned, and 건조기, the dryer.
To run the machine, Korean uses the verb 돌리다, literally to spin, and the pattern 세탁기를 돌리다. To put clothes in, you say 세탁기에 넣다. A front-loading machine is 드럼 세탁기, named after the drum.
How Do You Pronounce 세탁기?
세탁기 is se-tak-gi, but it sounds like [se-tak-kki]. The final k of 탁 closes the syllable, and the ㄱ of 기 right after it is pulled tight into a doubled kk. This is the same tightening you hear in many words with a k followed by a g, and the romanization setakgi does not show it. The vowel in 세 is like the e in bed.
Example Sentences with 세탁기
세탁기가 고장 났어요.
Setakgiga gojang nasseoyo.
The washing machine is broken.
고장 났어요 reads has broken down. This is the sentence for reporting a fault.
세탁기에 빨래를 넣어요.
Setakgie ppallaereul neoeoyo.
I put the laundry into the washing machine.
빨래 is laundry, and 넣어요 means put in. 에 shows where the laundry goes, here into the machine.
새 세탁기를 사고 싶어요.
Sae setakgireul sago sipeoyo.
I want to buy a new washing machine.
새 is new. The ending 사고 싶어요 means I want to buy, a handy pattern for shopping trips.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Collocations show how you run, fill and describe the machine.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 세탁기를 돌리다 | to run the washing machine |
| 세탁기에 넣다 | to put in the washing machine |
| 드럼 세탁기 | front-loading washing machine |
| 세탁기 소리 | washing machine noise |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners translate wash the machine instead of using the verb for running it.
Wrong: ✗ 세탁기를 빨아요.
Correct: ✓ 세탁기를 돌리다. To wash clothes, say 빨래를 하다.
빨아요 is for washing clothes or other fabric, so 세탁기를 빨아요 says you are washing the machine itself. The machine is run with 돌리다.
세탁기 Compared with 세탁소 and 건조기
Two nearby words are easily confused with the machine itself.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 세탁기 | washing machine | The machine that washes clothes. |
| 세탁소 | laundry / dry-cleaning shop | A shop that cleans clothes, not the machine. |
| 건조기 | dryer | The machine that dries clothes. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
세탁기 is Sino-Korean, written 洗濯機 in hanja: 洗 (wash) plus 濯 (rinse) plus 機 (machine). The last character is the same machine ending you will see in other appliance words.
In a Shared Laundry Room
A resident asks a housemate about the shared washing machine before starting a load. Both use polite endings.
Resident
지금 세탁기를 써도 돼요?
Jigeum setakgireul sseodo dwaeyo?
Can I use the washing machine now?
Housemate
네, 빨래는 다 꺼냈어요.
Ne, ppallaeneun da kkeonaesseoyo.
Yes, I’ve taken all the laundry out.
Resident
세제는 어디 있어요?
Sejeneun eodi isseoyo?
Where is the detergent?
Housemate
세탁기 옆에 있어요.
Setakgi yeope isseoyo.
It is beside the washing machine.
써도 돼요 asks permission to use something. 돌리다 is the more specific verb for running the machine, but 쓰다, “to use”, works naturally when asking whether a shared appliance is available. The housemate answers by saying the laundry has been removed, so the drum is free.
What Do the Buttons on a Washing Machine Mean?
A machine’s controls use short nouns rather than complete instructions. 세탁 is the washing stage, 헹굼 is rinsing, and 탈수 is the spin stage that removes water. 탈수 does not mean the clothes are fully dry: that is why a separate 건조기 can still be needed after the wash.
전원 labels the power control. 시작 means “start”, and 일시정지 means “pause”. You may see the last two together on one button. These labels name actions or functions; they are not polite commands spoken to a person. The exact controls differ by machine, but recognizing the stage names helps you follow the cycle.
Useful Combinations for Machines and Laundry
세탁기 사용법 means “how to use the washing machine” or “washing machine instructions”. 사용법 is the method of use, so this phrase fits a manual heading or a question to a host. 세탁기 청소 means cleaning the appliance itself, rather than washing the clothes inside it.
세탁기 고장 means a washing machine breakdown. A repair listing or a message about an appliance can use this short noun phrase. In a conversation, the existing example 세탁기가 고장 났어요 turns the same idea into a complete report: the machine has broken down.
Where Will You See 세탁기?
An apartment listing may include 세탁기 in its appliance list. That tells you which appliance is mentioned; words about whether it is shared or inside the room supply the living arrangement. A laundry room may list 세탁기 and 건조기 separately because washing and drying are different services or stages.
At a self-service laundromat, 코인 세탁소 names the place, while 세탁기 names one machine there. The ordinary word 세탁소 can also refer to a staffed laundry or dry-cleaning shop. Check the rest of the sign or the facilities to understand which kind of place it is.
Words for Finishing the Laundry
| Korean | Meaning | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| 빨래 | laundry; washing clothes | The clothes or the household task, rather than the appliance. |
| 세제 | detergent | The cleaning product that goes into the wash. |
| 섬유 유연제 | fabric softener | A different product from detergent. |
| 건조대 | drying rack | Holds clothes while they air-dry. |
The home vocabulary lesson introduces other household items alongside the washing machine.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word names the appliance: 세탁기 or 세탁소?
- Does 탈수 mean the clothes have been fully dried?
- What does 세탁기 청소 mean?
Show answers
- 세탁기; 세탁소 is a laundry or dry-cleaning shop.
- No. It is the spin stage that removes water.
- Cleaning the washing machine itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say washing machine in Korean?
Say 세탁기 (setakgi). It is spoken [se-tak-kki].
How do you say to run the washing machine?
Say 세탁기를 돌리다. Do not use the verb in 세탁기를 빨아요 for the machine.
How do you say the washing machine is broken?
Say 세탁기가 고장 났어요.
What is the difference between 세탁기 and 세탁소?
세탁기 is the machine, while 세탁소 is a shop that cleans clothes for you.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: home furniture vocabulary holds 세탁기 with other household items.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: Add 세탁기 to your review in the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list is the word for table.