Definition
Words, speech, or language; what someone says or how they express themselves.
Example
그의 말이 내 마음을 따뜻하게 했어요.
Show translation
His words made my heart feel warm.
Etymology
말 derives from Middle Korean *말 (mal), meaning "speech" or "word." It is one of the most ancient and core vocabulary items in the Korean language, tracing back to proto-Koreanic roots. The same form also means "horse" (馬) in a separate lexical entry, making it a classic Korean homonym — context always disambiguates the two.
Cultural note
In Korean culture, great weight is placed on the power of 말 (words). The proverb "말 한마디에 천 냥 빚을 갚는다" — "One word can repay a thousand nyang of debt" — reflects the deep cultural belief that speech can be more valuable than money. Be aware that 말 is also a homonym for "horse" (말), so context is essential. Additionally, 말하다 (to speak/say) is one of the first verbs Korean learners encounter, built directly from this noun.