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]

  • Audio:

    (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

• (penis): 남근 (namgeun), 음경 (eumgyeong), 자지 (jaji), 좆 (jot)
• 칠리 (chilli)