노트북
"Laptop" in Korean — from English "notebook." The everyday word for laptop computers, NOT for paper notebooks.
- Meaning: "Laptop" in Korean — from English "notebook." The everyday word for laptop computers, NOT for paper notebooks.
- Pronunciation: /no.tʰɯ.puk̚/ (noteubuk)
- Part of speech: noun
- Formality: Neutral — works in most everyday settings.
- Literal: notebook
What does 노트북 mean?
노트북 (noteubuk) means "laptop computer" in Korean — borrowed from the English word "notebook." This is a classic Konglish gotcha: in English, a "notebook" is paper; in Korean, 노트북 is exclusively the portable computer. If you mean a paper notebook, you say 공책 (gongchaek) or 노트 (note, without the 북). 노트북 is the standard everyday term — Korean tech ads, news, K-dramas, and conversations all use it. Younger speakers may also say 랩탑 (raeptap, "laptop"), but 노트북 is far more common.
Examples in context
When to use 노트북
- Tech-product conversations — buying, recommending, troubleshooting
- Cafe-work and study-cafe contexts (extremely common in Korea)
- Office and school discussions of devices
- Online shopping and product reviews
When NOT to use 노트북
- When you mean a paper notebook — that is 공책 (gongchaek) or 노트 (note)
- Formal IT documentation — 휴대용 컴퓨터 ("portable computer") or 노트북 컴퓨터 may appear
- Distinguishing tablets from laptops — say 태블릿 (taebeullit) for tablet specifically
Related terms
More in Konglish & loanwords
Everyday Korean words coined from English roots — daily-life vocab that surprises learners.
"Cell phone" in Korean — Konglish "hand phone." The everyday word Koreans actually use, more common than the textbook term 휴대폰.
"Selfie" in Korean — short for 셀프카메라 ("self camera"). The default word for self-portrait photos.
"Iced americano" — Korea's most-consumed coffee drink, the cultural-meme staple even Koreans drink in the dead of winter.
"Mental breakdown" — Korean slang for being completely overwhelmed, frozen, or short-circuiting from shock.
Frequently asked questions
What does 노트북 mean in Korean?
노트북 (noteubuk) means "laptop computer" in Korean. The word is borrowed from English "notebook" but the meaning is narrower — in Korean, 노트북 refers ONLY to a laptop, never to a paper notebook. For a paper notebook, Koreans say 공책 (gongchaek) or just 노트 (note).
Why does 노트북 mean laptop, not notebook?
Korean borrowed the word from "notebook computer," a marketing term used by laptop makers in the 1990s. Korean kept the "notebook" portion and dropped "computer," and the meaning narrowed: 노트북 = laptop, exclusively. This is a classic Konglish gotcha — the borrowed word means something narrower or different from English.
What is the Korean word for paper notebook?
A paper notebook is 공책 (gongchaek, "empty book") or 노트 (note, without the 북). 공책 is the formal/childhood term — what students call school notebooks. 노트 is the everyday adult term. Both are completely separate from 노트북, which is always the laptop.
How is 노트북 pronounced?
노트북 is pronounced [no.tʰɯ.puk̚] — "no-tü-book," three syllables. The "노" rhymes with English "no"; "트" is a quick aspirated "tü"; "북" rhymes with "book" but ends in an unreleased -k stop. Romanization: noteubuk (Revised). Many English speakers spell it phonetically as "noh-tuh-book."
Further reading
External references for cross-checking the information on this page.
- Konglish — Wikipedia
How Korean borrowed "notebook" with a narrower meaning (laptop only).
- Laptop — Wikipedia
The device 노트북 refers to in Korean.
More Korean slang?
Browse the full Korean Slang Dictionary or read the deep-dive: Korean Slang Ultimate Guide.