What does "seoul" mean?
The capital city of South Korea, also the historical capital of Korea from 1394 until the country was divided in 1945.
Seoul
/səʊl/ name
name ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The capital city of South Korea, also the historical capital of Korea from 1394 until the country was divided in 1945.
- Grammar: seoul is listed as name.
- Nearest alternatives: capital, metropolis, urban center.
- Useful contrasts: countryside, rural area.
- Usage evidence: Seoul is the capital of South Korea.
How to use "seoul"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "seoul" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "seoul" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "seoul" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "seoul" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "seoul" is acting as name in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "capital" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "seoul", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Proper Noun
- 1 The capital city of South Korea, also the historical capital of Korea from 1394 until the country was divided in 1945.
"The Joint Commission provided for in the Moscow agreement began its work at Seoul, the ancient capital of Korea, on March 20, 1946. This Commission, which was, of course, the key element in the plan agreed upon at Moscow, was deadlocked almost from the start."
- 2 the South Korean government metonymically
"To that end, Seoul and Taipei signed a reciprocal driver’s license agreement in February, with immediate effect, to make driving easier for visitors on each side, he said."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
countrysiderural area
Example
"Seoul is the capital of South Korea."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "seoul"?
Common synonyms include: capital, metropolis, urban center.
How do you use "seoul" in a sentence?
Seoul is the capital of South Korea.
How do you pronounce "seoul"?
Pronounced /səʊl/.
Etymology
From Korean 서울 (Seoul, literally “capital city”), originally from Claude-Charles Dallet's French-based romanization of Korean, reinforced by the 1959 South Korean Ministry of Education romanization of Korean, which transcribed the Korean vowel ㅓ (/ʌ/) with the digraph "eo" and which was official until 1984. Note that English Seoul predates the Revised Romanization romanization of Seoul. The two romanization systems simply produce identical forms.