Do You Know Your Korean Slang? Part 1 (2024)

Recently, Melkimx came up with the awesome idea that we should create a gallery article explaining Korean slang words. So here is part one of this awesome list. Check it out and see what words you already knew, or what words you didn’t know about before!

1. 꿀벅지 (Reads Like Ggool Buck Gee) = Honey Thighs

The word “꿀벅지” (Honey Thighs) was made popular by After School’s Uee. When a girl has beautiful but thick thighs, this word is used. The origin of this word is still up in debate. However, usually people think that it was created because some girls have thighs that look so sweet like honey!

Example: Damn that girl has Ggool Buck Gee!!!

2. 오글오글 (Reads Like Oh Geul, Oh Guel) = Getting Goosebumps Because of Awkwardness

The word “오글오글” (Getting Goosebumps) is short for “손발이 오그라든다.” This expression when literally translated means, “My hands and feet are crawling in.” Why does a person’s hand and feet close in? This is the Korean equivalent of getting goosebumps. But, In South Korea the expression “I’m getting goosebumps” is also a bit different from the U.S.

South Koreans use this to mean situations where whatever someone said is very “awkward,” “embarrassing,” and/or “cheesy.”

Example: “Omg I just had the most awkward experience, I’m getting all ‘Oh Geul, Oh Geul.’”

3. 몸짱 (Reads Like Mome Jjang) = Person with Hot Body

This one is pretty easy, “몸짱” (Person with Hot Body) is used to describe men or women with great bodies. For men it usually means that he has a very muscular body, while for women it usually means that they have a very skinny yet fit body.

Example: Kwon Sang Woo is a “Mome Jjang”

4. 빠순이 (Reads Like Bba Soon Eee) = Crazy Fans

The word “빠순이” (Crazy Fan) is a derogatory term to describe fans that are crazy for their celebrities. The “빠” is from “오빠.” (oppa) This word has been used frequently to describe fans that will do extreme acts to show their love for their favorite celebrities. (Writing letters in blood and protesting in dangerous ways over a breakup of group)

Example: Those “Bba Soon Eee’s” need to stop bothering JYJ!

5. 간지 (Reads Like Ganji) = Awesome

“간지” (Awesome) is from the Japanese word for “getting a feeling.” It means that something is awesome. It can be attached in front of other words to mean “Awesome X.”

Example: G-Dragon is “Ganji.”

6. Loser (Reads like Looger) = Someone Who Is Short, or Loser

The word “Loser” became wildly popular after the student Lee Do Kyung appeared on a variety show and made the statement that “All short men are losers.” After that, the word has been associated with being short. If you are short, you are also a loser. But, this word is also commonly used the English way to describe losers.

This slang word was so popular that many internet memes were created comparing people’s heights. Tom Cruise had a new nickname among Koreans which was “Tom Cru-Loser.” (His last name Cruise in Korean is pronounced like Klooge)

Example: “Uggh I was set up with a blind date yesterday, he was only 160 cm, such a loser.”

7. 뭥미 (Reads Like Mwongmi) = WTF?

“뭥미” is actually a mistyped version of “뭐임” which basically means WTF. (What the f*ck?)

Example: “What she said was so strange, Mwongmi.”

8. 완소남 or 완소녀 (Reads Like Wansonam or Wansonyeo) = Very Precious Guy or Very Precious Girl

“완소” is short for “완전 소중한” which means very precious. If you attach male (남) or female (녀) it means “Very Precious Guy” or “Very Precious Girl.”

Example: Lee Jun Ki is a “Wansonam.”

9. 훈남 (Reads Like Hoonnam) = A Good Looking Guy that Looks Nice and Warm

“훈남” is a combination of “훈훈하다” (Nice and Warm) and “남.” (man) Combined together the word is used to describe good looking men that also have a very nice and warm look. Lee Seung Gi is one good example and currently this word is used to describe the winner of Super Star K Season 4 Roy Kim.

Example: Roy Kim is such a “Hoonnam.”

10. 초딩 (Reads Like Choding) = Elementary School Kid

“초딩” (Elementary School Kid) is a derogatory term describing elementary school children. This word became popular because of the elementary school children logging online and cursing at strangers. The word is now used to describe something that is childish.

Example: “That prank you pulled was so childish, you ‘Choding.’”

11. 화이팅 (Reads Like Fighting!) = Let’s Do It, Hoorah, YEAH! Do Your Best, and Good Luck.

“파이팅” (Fighting) is a cheer word but its English equivalent would be closer to something like “Good Luck.”

Example: “Work hard today, ‘Hwaiting.’”

12. 대박 (Reads Like Daebak!) = Awesome and Wow

“대박” (Awesome) was used long before Daesung’s popular song. It is usually used to describe something that is awesome, but it is also used like the word “Wow.”

Example: “’Daebak!’ that dance move he did was so awesome.”

13. 애교 (Reads Like Aegyo) = Acting Cute

“애교” (Acting Cute) is used to describe acting cute. Usually women will show “Aegyo” more often but it also applied to men who are acting cute. The word can describe the action of acting cute, or a person’s personality. For example, the word can be used this way: “He/She has a lot of ‘Aegyo.’”

Example: “Sarah needs to stop her ‘Aegyo.’ It’s note cute at all.”

14. 뻥 (Reads Like Bbung) = Joke or Lie

“뻥” is used to describe something that is either a lie or a joke. It is used to say expressions such as “I was just joking,” “Are you kidding me?” or “You are lying,” and “Stop lying.”

Example: “Don’t trust Jason everything he says is ‘Bbung.’”

15. 여친 (Reads Like Yeochin) = Girlfriend

“여친” is short for “여자친구” which means girlfriend. It is almost safe to say that this has become the predominant word to describe a person’s significant other.

Example: “I have a new Yeochin, would you like to meet her?”

16. 멘붕 (Reads Like Menboong) = Mental Breakdown or Nervous Breakdown

“멘붕” is short for “멘탈붕괴” which means mental breakdown. This word is used whenever someone is having a very difficult time or when a person cannot solve a problem.

Example: “Melody is going through ‘Menboong’ right now, don’t bother her.”

Want some more? Click here to move on to Part2