10 Korean English Words You’ll Hear in Everyday Items – From Hand Phone (핸드폰) to Remote Control (리모컨)

💝Lost in Translation? Korean English Words – Part 2: Everyday Items at Home


안녕하세요. I'm Hangeulia ^-^

Welcome back to my Konglish series! Today, let’s step inside daily conversations between friends — the gadgets and items you’ll hear about all the time. 📱🔌 Some of these words look familiar in English, but in Korean they carry a completely different meaning. Curious? Let’s dig in together ^^



💜 Aircon (에어컨)


Situation
Friends at a café on a hot day.

Dialogue
A: 아~~ 에어컨 빵빵하다!
(a~~ e-eo-keon ppang-ppang-ha-da!)
B: 응, 시원해~~ 이제야 좀 살 것 같아.
(eung, si-won-hae~~ i-je-ya jom sal-geot gat-a)

Translation
A: Ahh, the air conditioning is blasting!
B: Yeah, it’s so cool~~ finally, I feel alive again.


💛 Story Note
In English, people usually say “AC” or “air conditioning.” But in Korea, it’s almost always called 에어컨 (e-eo-keon). So if your friend says “에어컨 틀자,” it means “turn on the air conditioning.” You’ll hear 에어컨 everywhere — at home, in cafés, on buses, even in K-dramas when summer heatwaves hit. ^^

  • Aircon (에어컨, e-eo-keon) = air conditioner / AC
  • Casual, everyday Korean term


💜 Hand Phone (핸드폰)


Situation
Two friends are chatting in the café, one’s battery is dying.

Dialogue
A: 핸드폰 충전기 있어?
(haen-deu-pon chung-jeon-gi it-seo?)
B: 응, 여기 있어.
(eung, yeo-gi it-seo)

Translation
A: Do you have a phone charger?
B: Yeah, here you go.


💛 Story Note
In English, nobody says “hand phone.” But in Korea, 핸드폰 (haen-deu-pon) is the everyday word for a cell phone. People also just say “폰 (pon),” and when highlighting features or models, they’ll use 스마트폰 (smartphone).

  • Hand phone (핸드폰, haen-deu-pon) = cell phone 📱
  • Also shortened to 폰 (pon) in casual talk
  • Smartphone (스마트폰, seu-ma-teu-pon) used for features


💜 Notebook (노트북)


Situation
One friend brought a device to the café.

Dialogue
A: 노트북 가져왔어.
(no-teu-buk ga-jyeo-wat-seo)
B: 오~ 과제해?
(o~ gwa-je-hae?)

Translation
A: I brought my laptop.
B: Oh, are you working on homework?


💛 Story Note
In English, notebook means a paper notebook. But in Korea, 노트북 (no-teu-buk) almost always means a laptop computer. So when your Korean friend says “노트북 샀어,” don’t imagine lined paper — it’s a brand-new laptop!😉

  • Notebook (노트북, no-teu-buk) = laptop computer 💻
  • English “notebook” = paper book; Korean “노트북” = laptop


💜 Concent (콘센트)


Situation
At the café, one friend needs to charge their laptop.

Dialogue
A: 여기 콘센트 있어?
(yeo-gi kon-sen-teu it-seo?)
B: 응, 저기 구석에 있어.
(eung, jeo-gi gu-seok-e it-seo)

Translation
A: Is there an outlet here?
B: Yeah, over in the corner.


💛 Story Note
콘센트 (concent) is one of the most confusing Konglish words. In English, there’s no word “concent.” The right words are outlet (US) or socket (UK). So when Koreans say “콘센트 어디 있어?”, they mean “Where’s the outlet?” not some strange new gadget.

  • Concent (콘센트, kon-sen-teu) = outlet / socket
  • No such word in English!


💜 Tissue (티슈)


Situation
One friend spills a drink at the café.

Dialogue
A: 아, 쏟았다! 티슈 좀 줄래?
(a, ssot-at-da! ti-syu jom jul-lae?)
B: 여기 있어.
(yeo-gi it-seo)

Translation
A: Oh no, I spilled! Can you pass me a napkin?
B: Here you go.


💛 Story Note
In English, tissue usually means soft paper for your nose. But in Korea, 티슈 (ti-syu) often means napkin or wipes you use at cafés and restaurants. So when Koreans ask for “티슈,” they mean something to clean up, not a Kleenex for sneezing.

  • Tissue (티슈, ti-syu) = napkin, wipes
  • English “tissue” = usually for blowing your nose


💜 Tumbler (텀블러)


Situation
Two friends checking out the display of tumblers and cups on their way out of the café.

Dialogue
A: 오! 이 텀블러 진짜 예쁘다!
(o! i teom-beul-leo jin-jja ye-ppeu-da!)
B: 응, 이번에 한정판으로 나온 거래.
(eung, i-beon-e han-jeong-pan-eu-ro na-on geo-rae)

Translation
A: Wow, this reusable cup is so pretty!
B: Yeah, it’s a limited edition release.


💛 Story Note
In English, a “tumbler” usually means a short glass cup. But in Korea, 텀블러 (teom-beul-leo) means a reusable insulated bottle or cup you carry around for coffee, tea, or water.

  • Tumbler (텀블러, teom-beul-leo) = reusable bottle / insulated cup ☕
  • English “tumbler” = glass cup; Korean “텀블러” = travel mug / reusable cup

💛 Cultural Note
In Korea, some people enjoy collecting Starbucks tumblers and mugs as a hobby. Every season or holiday, Starbucks releases limited-edition tumblers, and dedicated fans like to pick them up. For some collectors, their kitchen cupboards are filled almost entirely with Starbucks tumblers — it’s more about the fun of collecting than just having a cup ^^



💜 Range (레인지)


Situation
Two friends are eating snacks at a convenience store.

Dialogue
A: 저기 뒤에 전자레인지 있다.
(jeo-gi dwi-e jeon-ja-rein-ji it-da)
B: 내 만두도 레인지에 같이 돌려줘.
(nae man-du-do rein-ji-e gat-i dol-lyeo-jwo)

Translation
A: There’s a microwave in the back.
B: Can you warm up my dumplings in the microwave too?


💛 Story Note
In English, “range” means a stovetop or oven. But in Korea, 레인지 (reinji) almost always means a microwave oven. So if you hear someone say “레인지에 돌려,” they’re talking about heating food in the microwave — not cooking on a stove. You’ll often find microwaves in Korean convenience stores for heating snacks.^^

  • Range (레인지, rein-ji) = microwave 🔥
  • English “range” = stovetop + oven


💜 Gas Range (가스레인지)


Situation
One friend visits another’s house, and they’re making ramyeon together.

Dialogue
A: 이거 전원 어떻게 켜? 난 가스레인지밖에 안 써봤어.
(i-geo jeon-won eo-tteo-ke kyeo? nan ga-seu-rein-ji bak-kke an sseo-bwat-seo)
B: 여기 이거 누르면 돼. 불 조절하기는 가스레인지가 더 좋은 것 같아.
(yeo-gi i-geo nu-reu-myeon dwae. bul jo-jeol-ha-gi-neun ga-seu-rein-ji-ga deo jo-eun geot gat-a)

Translation
A: How do I turn this on? I’ve only ever used a gas stove.
B: Just press this button. But honestly, controlling the flame is easier on a gas stove.


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 가스레인지 (gas reinji) means a gas stove with burners and real flames. These days, more homes are switching to electric ranges like 인덕션 (induction) or 하이라이트 (ceramic cooktop). But some people still prefer gas because it’s easier to adjust the flame for cooking, especially for dishes like stir-fry or ramen.

  • Gas range (가스레인지, ga-seu-re-in-ji) = gas stove 🔥
  • Alternatives: 인덕션 (induction) or 하이라이트 (ceramic cooktop)
  • Gas stoves = preferred by many cooks for flame control


💜 Driver (드라이버)


Situation
Two friends fixing something at a friend's place.

Dialogue
A: 드라이버 있어?
(deu-ra-i-beo it-seo?)
B: 응. 십자? 일자?
(eung. sip-ja? il-ja?)

Translation
A: Do you have a screwdriver?
B: Yeah — Phillips or flathead?


💛 Story Note
In English, a driver usually means someone who drives (like a taxi driver). But in Korea, 드라이버 (deuraibeo) almost always means a screwdriver. If you want to say “driver” as in a person, Koreans say 기사님 (gi-sa-nim) or 운전기사님 (un-jeon-gi-sa-nim).

  • Driver (드라이버, deu-ra-i-beo) = screwdriver
  • 십자 = Phillips, 일자 = flathead


💜 Remote Control (리모컨)


Situation
Two friends are sitting together, TV is on.

Dialogue
A: 리모컨 어디 갔어?
(ri-mo-kon eo-di gat-seo?)
B: 소파 밑에 있어.
(so-pa mit-e it-seo)

Translation
A: Where’s the remote?
B: Under the sofa.


💛 Story Note
In English, people just say “remote.” But in Korea, it’s always 리모컨 (ri-mo-kon), short for remote control. So don’t be confused when you hear “리모컨 좀 줘” — it’s the TV remote!

  • Remote control (리모컨, ri-mo-kon) = TV remote
  • English “remote” = casual shorthand


💜 Quick Recap


Everyday Korean English Words: 에어컨, 핸드폰, 노트북, 콘센트, 티슈, 텀블러, 레인지, 가스레인지, 드라이버, 리모컨 with pronunciation

  • 에어컨 (e-eo-keon) = air conditioner / AC
  • 핸드폰 (haen-deu-pon) = cell phone
  • 노트북 (no-teu-buk) = laptop computer
  • 콘센트 (kon-sen-teu) = outlet / socket
  • 티슈 (ti-syu) = napkin / wipes
  • 텀블러 (teom-beul-leo) = reusable bottle / insulated cup
  • 레인지 (rein-ji) = microwave
  • 가스레인지 (ga-seu-rein-ji) = gas stove
  • 드라이버 (deu-ra-i-beo) = screwdriver
  • 리모컨 (ri-mo-kon) = remote control


💜 Final Thoughts


That’s our second Konglish set — everyday items you’ll hear about at home or in cafés. These words might look like English, but in Korea they’ve taken on brand-new meanings. Now you’ll know exactly what your Korean friends mean when they ask for the “리모컨” or “콘센트.” ^-^

👉 Next time, in Part 3: Beauty & Skincare (스킨, 에센스, 썬크림...), we’ll explore the world of K-beauty terms you’ll meet at the vanity.


With love,

한글리아 😊



Part 2 of the Konglish series — ← Previous: Part 1. 7 Korean English Words You’ll Hear in Everyday Housing – From Apartment (아파트) to One Room (원룸) | Next → Part 3. 7 Korean English Words for K-Beauty Skincare — From Skin (스킨) to Sun Cream (썬크림)

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