뱀 먹은 소리한다

You use this phrase when someone's voice sounds 'off.' Maybe they have a sore throat. Perhaps they are whispering because they are nervous. You can use it as a lighthearted jab at a friend. Just add the verb 한다 (to do) or 하네 (doing) at the end. It functions as a descriptive idiom for the quality of someone's speech.

Use it when your friend has a cold and sounds like a frog. It is perfect for that morning voice before the first coffee. You can also use it if someone is being shy. If they are mumbling a confession or an apology, this fits perfectly. It’s great for casual settings like a karaoke room after five hours of singing. Your voice is gone, and you are literally 'making the sound of eating a snake.'

Do not use this with your boss during a serious presentation. It is too descriptive and a bit blunt. Avoid using it in very sad situations, like a funeral. If someone is crying and their voice breaks, calling it a 'snake sound' is insensitive. It carries a slightly playful or observational tone. Keep it for people you are comfortable with.

This idiom comes from old Korean folk observations. People noticed that if an animal (like a cow) swallowed a snake, its windpipe would be partially blocked. This created a very specific, wheezing sound. In traditional Korean medicine, the throat is a vital energy path. A 'snake' represents an obstruction of that energy. It’s a very visual and visceral way to describe vocal fatigue.

Most people use the standard 뱀 먹은 소리. You might hear 모기 소리 (mosquito sound) for a tiny voice. However, the snake version implies a more 'scratchy' or 'strained' quality. You can say 왜 뱀 먹은 소리를 해? which means 'Why do you sound so hoarse?' It’s a classic expression that hasn't changed much over the decades.