How to Say “Thanks For The Food” in Korean: 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgesseumnida)
“Jal meokgesseumnida” is what you say before a meal — roughly “I’ll eat well,” a thank-you to whoever provided the food.
“Jal meokgesseumnida” is what you say before a meal — roughly “I’ll eat well,” a thank-you to whoever provided the food.
잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgesseumnida) — thanks for the food (before eating)
How it feels and when to use it
Pair it with “jal meogeosseumnida” (잘 먹었습니다, “that was a great meal”) after eating. Saying both is polite, especially as a guest or when someone treats you.
Politeness levels
- 잘 먹을게 (jal meogeulge) — Casual (반말): with close friends and people younger than you
- 잘 먹을게요 (jal meogeulgeyo) — Polite (해요체): the safe everyday level for most people
- 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgesseumnida) — Formal (합쇼체): in business, announcements, and to elders
Real examples from native Korean
Here’s how native speakers actually use 잘 먹겠습니다 in real Korean:
- 잘 먹겠습니다 — I will enjoy this food
- 잘 먹었습니다 — I've had enough
- 잘 먹겠습니다! — I will enjoy this food!
A common mistake to avoid
Before vs after the meal — “-gesseumnida” (will) is before eating; “-eosseumnida” (did) is after. One letter of tense flips it from “I’ll eat well” to “I ate well.”
Related expressions
- 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida) — thanks, that was great (after)
- 맛있어 (masisseo) — it’s delicious
Want to hear 잘 먹겠습니다 spoken by real Koreans? Search it on Langle and watch it across dozens of real video clips.
Frequently asked questions
- What does “잘 먹겠습니다” mean in Korean?
- “Jal meokgesseumnida” is what you say before a meal — roughly “I’ll eat well,” a thank-you to whoever provided the food. It’s romanized as “jal meokgesseumnida.”
- Is “잘 먹겠습니다” formal or casual?
- “잘 먹을게” is casual (반말); “잘 먹을게요” is polite (해요체); “잘 먹겠습니다” is formal (합쇼체). Match the level to who you’re talking to.
- How do you pronounce “잘 먹겠습니다”?
- It’s pronounced “jal meokgesseumnida.” Before vs after the meal: “-gesseumnida” (will) is before eating; “-eosseumnida” (did) is after. One letter of tense flips it from “I’ll eat well” to “I ate well.”
- When should I use “잘 먹겠습니다”?
- Pair it with “jal meogeosseumnida” (잘 먹었습니다, “that was a great meal”) after eating. Saying both is polite, especially as a guest or when someone treats you.
- What can I say instead of “잘 먹겠습니다”?
- Try “잘 먹었습니다” (thanks, that was great (after)) or “맛있어” (it’s delicious).