Definition
To play, hang out, or spend time having fun without working or studying.
Example
주말에 친구들과 공원에서 놀았어요.
Show translation
I hung out with friends at the park on the weekend.
Etymology
Native Korean verb from Old Korean *nol-, meaning to play or frolic. The root appears in related words like 놀이 (nori, play/game) and 놀이터 (noriteo, playground), showing how broadly the concept of playful activity runs through the language.
Cultural note
In Korean culture, "놀다" covers a wide range of social leisure — from children playing outdoors to adults "hanging out" (노는 것). Telling someone 같이 놀자 ("Let's hang out") is a casual, warm invitation. Note that 놀다 can also mean to be idle or not working in certain contexts (e.g., 직장 없이 놀고 있다 = "just sitting around without a job"), so tone and context matter.