How do you say "smell" in Korean?

맡다

matda

Verb Hangul

In Korean, "smell" is 맡다 (matda).

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Pronunciation

Matda is two syllables, mat ending firmly and da said short and flat, close in shape to matboda.

Writing and usage

맡다 is written using hangul. It's a verb, and this word is also taught inside the Noun Town language learning game, where it appears in interactive lessons alongside hundreds of other everyday words.

Example sentence

신선한 빵 냄새가 나네요.

sinseonhan ppang naemsaega naneyo.

I can smell fresh bread.

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How to remember 맡다

Mat overlaps with the word for taste, matboda, a reminder that smell and taste are close cousins in Korean too.

Related words

Browse all Korean words in the glossary.

Questions about 맡다

How do you pronounce 맡다?

Matda is two syllables, mat ending firmly and da said short and flat, close in shape to matboda.

Is 맡다 formal or casual?

맡다 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 맡다 written in Korean?

맡다 is written using hangul. Romanised, it reads as matda.

Where can I practice Korean words for free?

You can play free Korean minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Korean glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Smell" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Korean language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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