설렁탕

Korean

설렁탕 (seolleongtang)

Alternative forms

• 선농탕 (先農湯, seonnongtang)
• 설농탕 (雪濃湯, seollongtang)

Etymology

Uncertain. A popular theory suggests that this word is a corruption of 선농탕 (先農湯, seonnongtang, “soup of the venerated farmer”), named after the Joseon-era annual harvest ritual held at 선농단 (先農壇, seonnongdan) after which the soup was supposedly eaten. However, it is difficult to find such mentions in historical sources of the era.

Another theory suggests that this word is instead a corruption of 설농탕 (雪濃湯, seollongtang, “snow concentrated soup”), coined from the soup's color and flavor.

Yet another theory suggests that this word is from *설렁 (*seolleong) + 탕 (湯, tang, “soup”), wherein the first component is a borrowing from Middle Mongol ᠱᠥᠯᠥᠨ (šölön, “soup”). However, the phonological correspondence is somewhat dubious. See also 수라 (sura, “meal served to the king”), proposed to come from the same Middle Mongol root.

A folk etymology suggests this word is from 설렁 (seolleong, “(ideophone) leisurely”) +‎ 탕 (tang, “soup”), describing how the soup is prepared. However, the semantic connection is dubious.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [sʰʌ̹ɭɭʌ̹ŋtʰa̠ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [설렁탕]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	seolleongtang
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	seolleongtang
McCune–Reischauer?	sŏllŏngt'ang
Yale Romanization?	sellengthang

Noun

설렁탕 • (seolleongtang) (hanja —湯)

1. seolleongtang, a soup made from ox or beef bones, meat, and other seasonings