정말

From 정(正) (jeong, “something that is correct”) +‎ 말 (mal, “word”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɕɘ(ː)ŋma̠ɭ]

  • Audio:

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• Phonetic hangul: [정(ː)말]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

정말 • (jeongmal) (hanja 正말)

1. really; truly

   새 하인들은 일을 정말 잘 해.

   Sae hain-deur-eun ir-eul jeongmal jal hae.

   Those new servants really do a splendid job.

정말 • (jeongmal) (hanja 正말)

1. that which is true or genuine

   그거 정말이야? ― geugeo jeongmar-i-ya? ― Is that true?

Like many Korean nouns, this word is often used as a determiner to modify another noun directly.

정말 • (Jeongmal) (hanja 丁抹)

1. (obsolete) Denmark (a country in Europe)