고추

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Gugeupganibang eonhae (救急簡易方諺解 / 구급간이방언해), 1489, as Middle Korean 고쵸〮 (Yale: kwòchyó). Its original meaning was “black pepper”. Two hypotheses exist regarding its origin:

  1. From Japanese 胡椒(こしょう) (koshō), in turn from Chinese 胡椒 [Sino-Korean reading 호초 (hocho)].
  2. From 고초(苦草) (gocho, “bitter vegetable”), acquiring its current meaning after the introduction of chili peppers in the 17th century.

Pronunciation
  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ko̞t͡ɕʰu]
    • (file)
  • Phonetic hangul: [고추]
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?gochu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?gochu
McCune–Reischauer?koch'u
Yale Romanization?ko.chwu

South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 고추의 / 고추에 / 고추까지

Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch only on the second syllable, and also heightens the subsequent suffixed syllable.

Noun

고추 • (gochu)

  1. The chili pepper, often specifically the Korean chili pepper, a variety of Capsicum annuum.
  2. (informal, often childish) willy, wee-wee, penis

See also
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