Key Facts
- Hangul: 폭포; Revised Romanization: pokpo
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 瀑布 (瀑 waterfall + 布 cloth)
- Register: neutral everyday word
Waterfall in Korean: What Does 폭포 Mean?
폭포 is the waterfall itself, from a small cascade to a famous falls. The tone is neutral and everyday. Mountain walks, nature programmes and travel brochures all use it.
Useful partners include 큰 폭포 (a big waterfall), 폭포 아래 (below the waterfall), and 폭포를 보다 (to see a waterfall). The compound 폭포수 means the water of the falls. The valley or gorge with a stream, where many waterfalls sit, is 계곡.
How Do You Pronounce 폭포?
폭포 is pok-po. The first syllable ends in an unreleased k, which means the back of the tongue closes the sound and you stop without a puff. The ㅍ in both syllables is aspirated, with a burst of air, and the vowel ㅗ is a steady rounded o. Say pok, hold the closure for a moment, then po.
Example Sentences with 폭포
폭포가 높아요.
Pokpoga nopayo.
The waterfall is high.
높아요 is is high, so the sentence says that the waterfall is tall. The ㅍ in 높 moves across to give nopayo.
산에 폭포가 있어요.
Sane pokpoga isseoyo.
There is a waterfall on the mountain.
산에 is on the mountain. 있어요 says that something exists there. This is the model sentence for locating a waterfall.
폭포 소리가 시원해요.
Pokpo soriga siwonhaeyo.
The sound of the waterfall is refreshing.
소리 is sound, and 시원해요 describes a cool, refreshing feeling. It is the usual word for a pleasant cool breeze or sound.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Partners of 폭포 describe size, view and water.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 폭포수 | waterfall water |
| 폭포를 보다 | to see a waterfall |
| 큰 폭포 | big waterfall |
| 폭포 아래 | below the waterfall |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners drop the final k and say a two-open-syllable word.
Wrong: ✗ po-po, with no k
Correct: ✓ 폭포, pok-po. The first syllable closes on an unreleased k.
The ㄱ at the end of 폭 is a real sound. It is a stop with no release, so the mouth closes briefly before po.
폭포 Compared with 계곡 and 물
Two simple words help you place a waterfall in the landscape.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 폭포 | waterfall | Water falling over a drop. |
| 계곡 | valley | A valley with a stream. |
| 물 | water | Water. |
The root word for water has its own page, water.
Where Does the Word Come From?
폭포 is Sino-Korean, written 瀑布 in hanja: 瀑 (waterfall) plus 布 (cloth). The picture is a sheet of cloth hanging down a cliff, which is exactly how a falls looks from a distance.
On a Trail: Finding the Waterfall
A walker checks the route with another hiker at a path junction. The waterfall is the destination, so the question uses 까지, “as far as”.
Walker
폭포까지 얼마나 걸려요?
Pokpokkaji eolmana geollyeoyo?
How long does it take to get to the waterfall?
Hiker
여기서 십 분 정도 걸려요.
Yeogiseo sip bun jeongdo geollyeoyo.
It takes about ten minutes from here.
Walker
이 길로 가면 돼요?
I gillo gamyeon dwaeyo?
Do I take this path?
Hiker
네, 다리를 건너세요.
Ne, darireul geonneoseyo.
Yes, cross the bridge.
The ten minutes is part of this example conversation, not a walking time for a particular attraction. 걸려요 asks about the time needed to reach a place. 폭포까지 names the endpoint; 여기서 names the starting point. Together they make a practical question when a sign points towards the falls but gives no walking time.
How Do You Describe the View?
폭포 소리 is the sound of the falls, while 폭포수 names the falling water. 폭포 아래 places something below the falls; 폭포 앞 places it in front. The location word matters when arranging to meet someone or explaining where a photograph was taken.
폭포처럼 means “like a waterfall”. In 땀이 폭포처럼 흐르다, sweat “flows like a waterfall”: the real meaning is that someone is sweating heavily. This is a vivid comparison, not a statement that an actual waterfall is present. The ending 처럼 attaches directly to 폭포 and turns the noun into a comparison.
Where Will You See 폭포 on a Trip?
Trail maps and direction signs use 폭포 as a destination label. A distance beside it tells you how far the waterfall is along the indicated route. 매표소 means ticket office, and 입구 means entrance; either may describe a different point from the waterfall itself. Asking about 폭포까지 therefore gives a more precise endpoint than asking about the entrance.
A travel description may mention 전망대, a viewing platform. That names a place to look from, rather than the falls. Likewise, 폭포 아래 describes a position but says nothing about whether visitors can enter the water. Access information comes from the surrounding notice, not from the word 폭포.
In nature programmes, 폭포가 높다 describes the height of the drop, while 폭포 소리가 크다 describes a loud sound. Korean uses 크다 with sound where English often uses “loud”. This keeps the feature being described clear: height and noise are different observations.
Landscape Words for the Route
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 계곡 | valley; stream valley | The broader setting that can contain a waterfall. |
| 바위 | rock | Describes the rocky surroundings. |
| 다리 | bridge | A crossing on the path; here it does not mean a leg. |
| 전망대 | viewing platform | A place to view the falls from. |
The landscape vocabulary lesson connects 폭포 with rivers, mountains and other features. A valley can contain several waterfalls, so 계곡 and 폭포 can both describe the same outing while naming different parts of the landscape.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 폭포까지 identify in a route question?
- Does 땀이 폭포처럼 흐르다 describe a real waterfall?
- Which word names a viewing platform?
Show answers
- The endpoint: as far as the waterfall.
- No. It compares heavy sweating to flowing waterfall water.
- 전망대.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say waterfall in Korean?
Say 폭포 (pokpo).
How do you say that there is a waterfall on the mountain?
Say 산에 폭포가 있어요.
How do you say the sound of the waterfall?
Say 폭포 소리. The sentence 폭포 소리가 시원해요 says the sound is refreshing.
What is the difference between 폭포 and 계곡?
폭포 is the falling water itself, while 계곡 is a valley with a stream running through it.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: landscape vocabulary sets 폭포 next to mountains, rivers and valleys.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: Add 폭포 to your review in the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list is the word for mountain.