Lunch at school
Read the menu, ask about food, and choose a meal.
급식 refers to a meal provided at school. 오늘 메뉴가 뭐예요? asks what is on today’s menu. If you have an allergy, clearly tell a responsible adult or cafeteria staff member. By the end, you will be able to recognize and practise 5 useful expressions for this situation.
5 expressions to use in context
Read the Korean first. Romanization is an approximate reading aid, so return to the Hangul spelling and use the Listen button in the interactive lesson when you want to hear your device’s Korean voice.
| Korean | Romanization | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 오늘 메뉴가 뭐예요? | oneul menyuga mwoyeyo? | What is on today’s menu? |
| 이 음식은 매워요? | i eumsigeun maewoyo? | Is this food spicy? |
| 저는 땅콩 알레르기가 있어요 | jeoneun ttangkong allereugiga isseoyo | I have a peanut allergy |
| 조금만 주세요 | jogeumman juseyo | Please give me just a little |
| 잘 먹겠습니다 | jal meokgetseumnida | Thank you for the meal I am about to eat |
How to make this lesson stick
- Picture the situation. 급식 refers to a meal provided at school. 오늘 메뉴가 뭐예요? asks what is on today’s menu. If you have an allergy, clearly tell a responsible adult or cafeteria staff member.
- Say one line at a time. Read the Hangul, check the meaning, then repeat without looking at the English.
- Change the order. Recall the Korean from a randomly chosen English meaning instead of memorizing the table sequence.
- Use the interactive lesson. Listen, save useful expressions, and answer the short review questions.
Check your recall
Try to say each Korean expression before opening the answer. A correct answer means more when you can also picture when you would use it.
What is on today’s menu?
오늘 메뉴가 뭐예요?
oneul menyuga mwoyeyo?
Is this food spicy?
이 음식은 매워요?
i eumsigeun maewoyo?
I have a peanut allergy
저는 땅콩 알레르기가 있어요
jeoneun ttangkong allereugiga isseoyo
Please give me just a little
조금만 주세요
jogeumman juseyo
Thank you for the meal I am about to eat
잘 먹겠습니다
jal meokgetseumnida
Language note
English meanings describe the use in this lesson rather than every possible translation. Politeness and nuance can change with the relationship and situation. For dictionary pronunciation, definitions and more examples, consult the National Institute of Korean Language Korean–English Learners’ Dictionary.
Use the phrase before you forget it.
Open the interactive version to listen and test yourself. No account is required.
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