All About Korean Dialects and Satoori

Today I want to get into Korean dialects! South Korea while being small in size, is quite big in population and history of culture to build their own dialectal variences. I’ll cover the major dialects, where they are from, any notes about them, the pronunciation differences, and then some interesting slang or expressions!

What is a Dialect?

A dialect is a specific version of language that develops from distance, cultural influence, and historical events. Dialect changes can include grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Dialects include enough of these changes to distinguish themselves, and with enough changes or population or influence one can become a fully new language!

Distinct English dialects you’d probably recognize are Standard American, Southern American, Australian, AAVE (African American Vernacular English), British English, etc.

Korean dialects have their own quirks and little changes like those! Learning about them will help you better understand the Korean language, and especially connect with Koreans. Satoori (사투리) is the Korean word for dialect so when you hear someone speak in a dialect, often you’ll hear the word Satoori come up as well.

How many South Korean dialects are there?

There are 6 main dialects in South Korea; each with their own little quirks!

1. Gyeonggi dialect
2. Gangwon dialect
3. Chungcheong dialect
4. Gyeongsang dialect
5. Jeolla dialect
6. Jeju dialect

Gyeonggi Dialect

Location: Seoul, Incheon (North West area)

This is what is considered the standard Korean dialect, and what you’ll hear most in media and for resources to learn Korean. No matter if someone has their own different dialect everyone understands standard Korean fully. This became the standard because after the Japanese Occupation, there were efforts to create a language standard and Seoul had the largest political and cultural significance.

Gangwon Dialect

Location: Pyeongchang, Chuncheon (North East area)

Gangwon is a mountainous and forested province, notably home of Pyeongchang host of the 2018 Winter Olympics. The dialect is seen as charming, rustic, and very countryside-sounding. They may also use older terms not commonly used in other areas.

Characteristics:

Change ㅆ pronunciation to ㅅ:
쌀 (rice): 살
싸움 (fight): 사움
쓰레기 (trash): 스레기

Change ㅏ to ㅓ at the end of a sentence:
좋아 (good): 좋어
합시다 (let’s do this): 합시더

Add extra words at the end of a question, such as -나, -노, -고, -가:
어디가? (where are you going?) 어데 가노?

Slang/Expressions:

남자 (man): 머스마
할머니 (grandma): 할마시
구수하다: something that is endearing, like charming local countryside people or traditions!

Chungcheong Dialect

Location: Daejeon (Central area)

This dialect is known for having a slower pace, which makes speakers seem relaxed and laid-back. Many think it’s the kindest-sounding accent because others can come across strongly.  Here’s an example of LOONA’s Heejin talking to her dad in the accent.

Characteristics:

ㅗ changes to ㅜ, and ㅛ changes to ㅠ:
안녕하세요 (hello): 안녕하세유
가요 (go): 가유

Last word of a sentence ending with with ㅐ/ㅔ changes to ㅑ:
피곤해 (I feel tired): 피곤햐
뱀 (snake): 뱜

If the last word of a sentence ends with 야, it changes to 여:
아니야 (to not be): 아니여
뭐야? (what is it?): 뭐여 

Slang/Expressions:

모양 (shape): 모냥
일어나다 (to wake up): 인나다 
젓가락 (chopstick): 저범 

Gyeongsang Dialect

Location: Busan, Daegu, Ulsan (South East area)

This is probably one you’ve heard before if you have noticed Satoori. Many celebs come from this area and use their dialect, or you’ll see it in a lot of shows. This dialect is generally seen as strong and manly. There are some variations in the dialect depending on the city as well, so keep that in mind!

Characteristics:

Shortening sentences:
뭐라고 했니? (what did you say?): 뭐라카노?
가 버려라 (go away): 가뿌라

Questions that end with ~니 become ~나/노
비 오니? (is it raining?): 비 오나?
왜 그러십니까? (why?): 와 그라노?

Also dropping the first vowel in compound vowels:
예쁘다 (pretty): 이쁘다
뒤에 있다 (it is behind you): 디에 있다

Slang/Expressions:

왜 (why?): 와?
밥 먹었어 (have you eaten?): 밥 뭇나?
뭐라고 하셨습나까? (what are you saying?): 뭐라카노?
감사합니다 (thank you): 감사합니데이
괜찮아 (It’s alright): 개안타
파이다: it’s not good/bad
가시나: that girl
머시마: that guy
살아있네: alive/awesome

Jeolla Dialect

Location: Gwangju, Jeonju (South West area)

This Satoori is seen as quite rhythmic, being slower than the Seoul dialect but faster than Chungcheong. It is also used in Pansori, a traditional Korean musical storytelling genre performed by a singer and drummer. The accent is strong, and some think of it as a bit rough or macho.

Characteristics:

Adding ~잉 at the end of a sentence:
그렇습니다 (yes it is): 그라죠잉
맞아요 (that’s right): 맞아요잉
밥 먹었어 (have you eaten?): 밥 믁어잉

Vowels change a bit; 어 becomes 으, and 여 becomes 예:
먹다 (eat): 믁다
없다 (not): 읎다

Slang/Expressions:

조금 (a little): 쪼깨
가위 (scissors): 가새
어제 (yesterday): 인자 

Jeju Dialect

Location: only Jeju island

Finally Jeju Satoori! This one is the most different because of Jeju’s unique history separate from the mainland; incorporating influences from Japanese, Chinese, and even Mongolian. It is also the most in danger of dying out, with fewer people speaking it fluently.

Characteristics:

The grammar changes a bit, with different uses of honorifics and sentence endings. Changing the ~요 honorific ending with ~ㅂ서. Combined with whole new phrases for the common standard Korean equivalent:
어서 오십시오 (welcome): 혼저 옵서
와서 보고 가세요 (please come and have a look): 왕 봥 갑서

They combine words at the end of a sentence:
밥 먹었니? (did you eat food?): 밥 먹언?
조금만 계십시오 (please wait a moment): 호꼼만 이십서게
어디서 오셨습니까? (where are you from?): 어디서 옵데가?
이거 했어? (did you do it?): 이거 핸?
알았어 (okay): 알안

Slang/Expressions:

강아지 (puppy): 강생이
고양기 (cat): 고냉이 
진짜 (really): 기
할아버지 (grandfather): 하르방
고구마 (sweet potato): 감저 

Are Korean Dialects Mutually Intelligible?

Most of the dialects are mutually intelligible and would only have some confusion about specific slang. Jeju dialect is the outlier though, while they can understand other dialects most people struggle to understand them. Because there are a lot more words changed or swapped out entirely and the different honorific grammar.

Maybe another time I can go deeper into Jeju Satoori and it’s influences! Recently more linguistic communities want to define it as a language rather than dialect, which is really interesting. The transition between being a dialect to whole new language isn’t always clear and can have many factors in play.

Is there a Korean dialect I should learn?

Standard Korean in news, media, songs, and shows typically follows the Seoul dialect. Also most educational material in English for learning Korean will focus on it as well, though there are some videos or articles for popular dialects like from Busan or unique ones like Jeju.

But really it’s up to you! Learning a specific dialect will help you connect and build strong bonds with speakers from that dialect. It is also harder to fully pick one up without being in the area or having someone teach you. So I would suggest if you love a certain area or city and want to/already live there to focus on their dialect. Similarly, if you have a lot of friends or a partner who speaks a certain Satoori pick that one.

If you really focus on a dialect I’ve heard that that can help bridge any hesitancy towards you being a foreigner and help Koreans make an instant connection and feel much closer to you!

But don’t worry about mastering one, it can be a fun idea just learning a few things or pronunciation quirks to still connect with Koreans. Many don’t expect foreigners to learn any Satoori, and will feel happy and flattered to hear you speak in their dialect!

Do North Koreans and South Koreans have different dialects?

North Korea and South have their own dialectal difference, with their populations being separated for 70+ years. How they both changed after the war, the North’s hostile attitude to Western and Japanese influence, and a general shift in culture, all factor into how the language has developed and changed.

For example, North Koreans made much more of an effort to avoid any loan words and use much more Native Korean. Such as South Korea using 립스틱 (lipstick) and North Korea using 입연지 (입술: lip + 연지: rouge). But both are still mutually intelligible! Many South Koreans will notice a difference in how refugees speak even while speaking like a South Korean, with an accent.