A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Tteokbokki
A popular Korean rice cake dish, pronounced TOK-bok-kee. Learn the rhythm and common mistakes.
tteokbokki
TOK-bok-kee
/tɔk.bɔk.ki/ · tok · bok · ki
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It's also a common topic in discussions about Korean street food and popular comfort foods.
Where the word comes from
The name comes from Korean 'tteok' (떡), meaning rice cake, and 'bokki' (볶이), meaning stir-fried.
Common ways people get it wrong
- tuck-BOCK-ee The first syllable is more of an 'aw' sound like in 'talk', not a short 'uh' sound.
- tock-BOCK-y The final syllable is a clear 'kee' sound, not a 'y' sound.
Frequently asked
How do you say tteokbokki?
It's pronounced TOK-bok-kee. The stress is on the first syllable, TOK.
Is tteokbokki spicy?
Typically, yes. The dish is known for its gochujang (Korean chili paste) based sauce, which gives it a spicy and slightly sweet flavor.
What is tteokbokki made of?
The main ingredient is 'tteok', which are chewy rice cakes. They are usually stir-fried in a savory and spicy sauce with other ingredients like fish cakes and vegetables.
