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How to Say “I don’t eat meat” in Korean: 고기 안 먹어요
고기 안 먹어요
gogi an meogeoyo
Meaning
I don’t eat meat.
Usage note
안 + verb makes a negative. Korean dishes often use meat broth, so it helps to confirm with staff when you order.
Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.
Practical guide
When to use it
Say it to tell the staff that you do not eat meat, as a simple way to find out which dishes suit you.
Watch out
안 + verb makes a negative: 안 먹어요 means “I do not eat”. Korean broths often use beef or anchovy stock, so it can help to ask about the broth as well. Staff may not know the word for vegetarian, so name the foods you avoid.
In a conversation
- 고기 안 먹어요 gogi an meogeoyo
I don’t eat meat. - 네, 알겠어요 ne, algesseoyo
Yes, I understand.
How to pronounce it
Said aloud, it sounds like [고기 안 머거요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 고기 | ||
| 고 | ㄱ+ㅗ | go |
| 기 | ㄱ+ㅣ | gi |
| 안 | ㅇ+ㅏ+ㄴ | an |
| 먹어요 | ||
| 먹 | ㅁ+ㅓ+ㄱ | [머] meo |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [거] geo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 먹어 → [머거]
Speech style
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in this phrase
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안 | adverb | not (negation) | TOPIK level 1 |
Quick self-check
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 What does “고기 안 먹어요” mean?
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Answer: I don’t eat meat
Question 2 How do you say “I don’t eat meat” in Korean?
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Answer: 고기 안 먹어요 gogi an meogeoyo
Question 3 How is “고기 안 먹어요” pronounced?
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Answer: [고기 안 머거요]
Reinforce what you learn with typing drills and quizzes.
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