Key Facts
- Hangul: 와인; Revised Romanization: wain
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: loanword
- Register: Neutral; used in all registers.
Wine in Korean: What Does 와인 Mean?
와인 is the English word borrowed into Korean, and it is used in all registers. A traditional Sino-Korean word, 포도주, also means wine and literally names grape liquor. In ordinary talk, bars, shops and menus, 와인 is the usual choice.
How Do You Pronounce 와인?
The romanization is wain, two syllables, wa-in.
Example Sentences with 와인
저는 와인을 좋아해요.
Jeoneun waineul joahaeyo
I like wine.
A preference statement. The object particle 을 marks 와인 as the thing liked, and 좋아해요 expresses the liking.
와인 한 잔 주세요.
Wain han jan juseyo
Please give me a glass of wine.
An ordering sentence. 한 잔 is "one glass", the counter for drinks served in a glass, and 주세요 is the polite request.
고기에는 레드 와인이 잘 어울려요.
Gogieneun redeu waini jal eoullyeoyo
Red wine goes well with meat.
A food-pairing sentence. 레드 와인 is red wine, and 잘 어울려요 says it matches well with the meat.
Common Phrases with 와인
Colour words and counters attach directly to 와인. 병 is the bottle counter, parallel to 잔 for a glass.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 와인을 마시다 | to drink wine |
| 레드 와인 | red wine |
| 화이트 와인 | white wine |
| 와인 한 병 | a bottle of wine |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: treating 와인을 먹다 as the standard phrase in writing or polite speech.
Correct: 와인을 마시다, because drinks take 마시다 (to drink). You will still hear 와인을 먹다 in casual speech, where 먹다 is used loosely for drinks, so it is casual rather than wrong.
와인 Compared with Its Neighbours
Three neighbours in the drinks family help you place 와인.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 포도주 | wine | wine, a traditional Sino-Korean word meaning grape liquor |
| 술 | alcohol | alcohol |
| 맥주 | beer | beer |
Where Does 와인 Come From?
와인 is a loanword from English, with no native or hanja roots. The older word 포도주 is the Sino-Korean alternative.
At a Restaurant: a Glass or a Bottle?
A diner orders wine. The server checks the colour before the diner asks for a recommendation.
Diner
와인 한 잔 주세요.
Wain han jan juseyo.
A glass of wine, please.
Server
레드 와인으로 드릴까요?
Redeu waineuro deurilkkayo?
Shall I bring you red wine?
Diner
네, 많이 달지 않은 와인 있어요?
Ne, mani dalji aneun wain isseoyo?
Yes. Do you have a wine that is not very sweet?
Server
이 와인을 추천해요.
I waineul chucheonhaeyo.
I recommend this wine.
한 잔 asks for one glass, so the server does not need to guess whether the diner wants a bottle. 레드 와인으로 uses 으로 to specify the chosen option. 드릴까요? is a respectful offer to give or bring something. The diner's final question adds a taste preference rather than relying on the colour alone.
How Do You Order the Amount You Want?
잔 counts glasses, and 병 counts bottles. 와인 한 잔 asks for a single glass; 와인 한 병 asks for a bottle. The wine word stays unchanged. To order two, use 두 잔 or 두 병. These are the forms used before counters, rather than the standalone number 둘.
와인잔 is the drinking vessel itself: a wineglass. 와인 한 잔 describes a serving of wine. The spacing and the extra 한 distinguish the container from the order. If you need another empty glass for the table, naming the glass is clearer than ordering another serving of wine.
Describing the Kind of Wine
| Korean | Meaning | What it tells the server |
|---|---|---|
| 레드 와인 | red wine | The colour category. |
| 화이트 와인 | white wine | Another colour category. |
| 스파클링 와인 | sparkling wine | Wine with bubbles. |
| 단 와인 | sweet wine | A preference about sweetness. |
| 드라이한 와인 | dry wine | Wine with little perceived sweetness. |
단 와인 means sweet wine, using 달다, “to be sweet”. 드라이한 와인 describes dry wine; “dry” here concerns sweetness, not the absence of liquid. In the dialogue, 많이 달지 않은 와인 asks for something not very sweet. This gives staff a useful preference without requiring a technical wine vocabulary.
Colour does not by itself settle sweetness. 레드 and 화이트 identify broad categories, while 단 and 드라이한 describe taste. A question about taste can therefore narrow your order after you have chosen red or white. If you have a specific budget, pointing to the price on the menu also makes the request clear.
Where Will You See 와인 on a Menu?
A drinks menu may separate 글라스 와인, wine by the glass, from bottles. Look at the serving size beside the name and price before ordering. The phrase 와인 리스트 means the wine list, so it can help you locate a separate menu rather than searching through the food dishes.
In a shop, 와인 identifies a product category; 포도주 may appear in descriptions of the drink. 술 is broader and includes wine, beer, and other alcoholic drinks. Asking whether a restaurant has 술 does not specifically ask whether it serves wine. 와인 있어요? narrows the question to wine and keeps a polite ending.
What Does “Goes Well with” Mean Here?
와인이 음식과 잘 어울리다 means that wine goes well with food. 어울리다 describes a good match, so the existing meat example expresses a pairing rather than a preparation method. The sentence does not say that the meat was cooked in wine. In a restaurant, it can introduce a recommendation based on the dish you ordered.
Related Words for Ordering Drinks
| Korean | Meaning | One useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 잔 | glass / cup counter | Counts individual servings in glasses. |
| 병 | bottle / bottle counter | Names or counts bottles. |
| 와인잔 | wineglass | The vessel, even when empty. |
| 안주 | food served with alcohol | Food eaten alongside drinks. |
| 추천 | recommendation | Useful when asking staff to help you choose. |
The drinks vocabulary lesson compares wine with beer and other drinks. Combine a drink name with the right counter when the amount matters; naming the drink alone leaves the serving size unstated.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 와인 한 병 order a glass or a bottle?
- What does 드라이한 describe in a wine order?
- Which names an empty wineglass: 와인잔 or 와인 한 잔?
Show answers
- A bottle.
- A dry wine, with little perceived sweetness.
- 와인잔 names the vessel; 와인 한 잔 is a serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "wine" in Korean?
Say 와인 (wain). It is a loanword used in all registers.
How do I order a glass of wine?
Say 와인 한 잔 주세요.
Which verb goes with 와인?
Use 마시다, as in 와인을 마시다. You will hear 먹다 in casual speech, but 마시다 is the standard verb for drinks.
What is 포도주?
It is the traditional word for wine, literally grape liquor.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Drinks vocabulary groups 와인 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add the word to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Related page: Ice in Korean.
- Related page: Alcohol in Korean.
- Related page: Beer in Korean.