Delicious in Korean is 맛있어요 (masisseoyo), from 맛있다 (masitda), literally "there is taste". Say 진짜 맛있어요! (jinjja masisseoyo) for "it's really good", or just 맛있어! (masisseo) with friends. Before a meal you will hear 맛있게 드세요 (masitge deuseyo), "enjoy your meal". The opposite is 맛없어요 (madeopseoyo).
- Delicious
- 맛있어요 (masisseoyo)
- Casual
- 맛있어 (masisseo)
- Looks delicious!
- 맛있겠다 (masitgetda)
- Enjoy your meal
- 맛있게 드세요 (masitge deuseyo)
- Not tasty
- 맛없어요 (madeopseoyo)
- Level
- A1
How does masisseoyo work?
맛 (mat) is taste and 있다 (itda) is to exist, so food that is delicious "has taste". Swap in 없다 (to not exist) and you get 맛없다, not tasty. The same pattern gives 재미있다 (fun) and 재미없다 (boring).
| Korean | Romanization | Speech level | When to say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 맛있어요 | masisseoyo | Polite | It's delicious |
| 맛있습니다 | masitseumnida | Formal | To a host or chef, in formal settings |
| 맛있어 | masisseo | Casual (반말) | Friends, family |
| 맛있겠다 | masitgetda | Casual | "That looks delicious!" before you taste |
| 맛있게 드세요 | masitge deuseyo | Honorific | Staff or a host: enjoy your meal |
| 맛없어요 | madeopseoyo | Polite | It doesn't taste good |
In speech, 맛있어요 is usually said "ma-shi-sseo-yo"; "ma-di-sseo-yo" is also standard, and some speakers prefer it.
How do you describe food in Korean?
Delicious is a start; these words tell the cook what you actually noticed. They all take the polite -요 ending as shown.
- 매워요maewoyoit's spicy
- 짜요jjayoit's salty
- 달아요darayoit's sweet
- 싱거워요singgeowoyoit's bland, needs salt
- 고소해요gosohaeyoit's nutty, toasty (sesame, roasted grain)
- 시원해요siwonhaeyorefreshing; also said of a hot, clean-tasting soup
- 배불러요baebulleoyoI'm full
Drinks count too. In this Contos story the village choir has just found its piano locked, and Yeonhwa quietly brews barley tea for everyone:
차는 정말 맛있었습니다.Chaneun jeongmal masisseotseumnida.
맛있었습니다 is the past tense in the formal -습니다 style that this story's narrator uses.
What do you say at a Korean meal?
Meals have a little script. Guests say 잘 먹겠습니다 before eating and 잘 먹었습니다 after, the thank-yous covered in how to say thank you in Korean. Around them:
맛있게 드세요.
Masitge deuseyo.
Enjoy your meal.
What staff say as they set the food down.
이거 진짜 맛있다!
Igeo jinjja masitda!
This is so good!
Casual exclamation.
더 드세요.
Deo deuseyo.
Have some more.
Hosts often insist more than once.
맛있게 먹었습니다.
Masitge meogeotseumnida.
That was delicious, thank you.
To staff or a host as you leave.
A restaurant famous for its food is a 맛집 (matjip), literally a "taste house". You will see it on shop signs and all over Korean food blogs.
What mistakes do learners make with delicious?
Saying 맛없어요 to a host is the one to avoid, even if it is true; it is blunt. If a dish isn't for you, 제 입맛에는 좀 안 맞아요 (je immaseneun jom an majayo), "it doesn't quite suit my taste", is the polite way out. Another slip is using 맛있다 for smell: a good smell is 냄새가 좋아요 (naemsaega joayo).
When the meal is done, how to ask for the bill in Korean covers paying, and if your host thanks you for coming, reply as in how to say you're welcome in Korean. For praising things you see rather than taste, try how to say beautiful in Korean.
Read The Village Choir in Korean at A2 and find out who locked the piano.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce masisseoyo?
Roughly "ma-shi-ssuh-yo". Before i, the ㅅ sounds like sh, and ㅆ in 써 is a tense, hissing s. The eo is like the u in "fun".
How do you say it was delicious in Korean?
맛있었어요 (masisseosseoyo) is the past tense. As you leave a meal, the set phrase is 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida), "I ate well", which also thanks whoever cooked or paid.
What does matjip mean?
맛집 (matjip) is a restaurant known for good food, from 맛 (taste) and 집 (house). Koreans use it for anything from a famous noodle shop to a good street stall.
How do you say I'm hungry in Korean?
배고파요 (baegopayo), or 배고파 (baegopa) with friends. Once you have eaten, 배불러요 (baebulleoyo) means "I'm full".