Meaning & use
Seoul
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproper
The capital city of South Korea, and the country's largest city.
Grammar: Used as a name, so it takes no article: 'I live in Seoul,' not 'the Seoul.'
Patterns
- in Seoul
- to Seoul
- from Seoul
My cousin moved to Seoul last year to study design.
Seoul is known for its fast internet and busy subway system.
We spent three days in Seoul during our trip to Korea.
proper nounproperformal
The South Korean government and its officials, thought of as a group.
Grammar: Used in news reports to mean the government, not the city itself.
Patterns
- Seoul said
- Seoul announced
- Seoul has agreed
Seoul announced new trade rules on Monday.
Seoul and Washington are holding talks this week.
The deal was welcomed by Seoul but criticized by some local groups.
Common combinations
- Seoul National University
- She hopes to study at Seoul National University.
- the Seoul metropolitan area
- The Seoul metropolitan area is home to over 25 million people.
- Seoul subway
- The Seoul subway is clean and easy to use.
- Seoul fashion week
- Designers from across Asia show their work at Seoul Fashion Week.
- Seoul time
- The meeting starts at 9 a.m. Seoul time.
Commonly confused: Seoul or soul? Seoul or sole?
Seoul vs soul
Sounds exactly like Seoul, but means the spiritual part of a person or a type of music. 'I love Seoul' and 'I love soul' are very different.
Seoul vs sole
Also pronounced the same, but means 'only' or the bottom of a foot or shoe. Context makes the meaning clear.
Practice
Which sentence uses Seoul correctly?
Choose one answer.
Seoul is a proper noun and does not take an article or a plural form. 'The Seoul' and 'a Seoul' are wrong because city names are used without articles. 'Seouls' is wrong because the name has no plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Seoul”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.