Learning a new language can be both challenging and rewarding. Investing time in learning Korean (한국어) is no different. There are times when you might marvel at your progress, and times when you feel your learning has plateaued. If you are currently feeling the latter, you have come to the right place!
When you are learning a language you might start by learning a very formal and an almost textbook-ish version of the language. However, often that is not how most natives would talk. So, when you pick a drama to watch or a song to listen to, you might not be able to understand certain phrases and words.
Yes, it is important to understand grammar and syntax, but learning colloquial or spoken language (구어) is just as important. Let’s take a look at some commonly-used Korean slang words (속어 or 은어).
With the help of these words, your Korean will sound more natural and you will increase your ability to understand natives when they speak. Some slang words are also deeply-rooted in culture. This is a great way to hone your language skills!
Let’s get started!
1. 불금 (bulgeum) – Thank God It’s Friday/TGIF
불금 is a combination of two words– 불 (bul) and 금 (geum).
While 불 stands for ‘fire’, 금 is short for ‘Friday’ (금요일). The literal translation of 불금, therefore, is Fire Friday.
Being excited for the weekend is a worldwide phenomenon, and Fridays are the beginning of the fun and relaxation that awaits. 불금 is the perfect word to describe the feeling of being pumped for the weekend.
Example: 불금인데, 신난다! (I am excited because it is Friday)
2. 불토 (bulto) – Thank God It’s Saturday/TGIS
You guessed it. 불토 is an extension of the feeling that 불금 brings with it. The excitement for the weekend does not die down after a night out on Friday, does it? It finds its way to Saturday. This is exactly the feeling that 불금 captures.
Here, 불 (bul) stands for ‘fire’ and 토 (to) is short for ‘Saturday’ (토요일). Together, they literally translate to Fire Saturday.
So, if the weekend is approaching and you’re stoked, 불금 and 불토 are the words for you!
Example: 불토 보낼 준비 벌써 시작했어요! (I have already started preparing for the lit Saturday!)
3. 내돈내산 (nae-ton-nae-san) – I bought it with my own money
This might be quite a level up from the basic 불금/불토. With this, you are sure to sound like a pro at 한국어.
내돈내산 is short for the pharse ‘내 돈으로 내가 산 것’. 내돈내산 combines four words– 내 (nae) stands for ‘my’, 돈 (ton) means ‘money’, and 산 (san) means ‘bought’.
Use this when you are proud of having bought something with your money. Bought a cool new outfit, the latest phone, or a meal that was fulfilling? 내돈내산 will capture the pleasure you feel knowing that you could afford to buy it yourself. So, if you are in the mood to splurge a little, don’t forget 내돈내산!
Example: 어제 입은 옷은 내돈내산이었어요. (The clothes that I wore yesterday were bought with my money)
4. 노잼 (nojaem) – No fun
This is one of the easier words on this list. You have probably heard your favorite K-pop idol (read: RM of BTS) saying it, too! It is finally time to understand what he was REALLY saying.
노잼 combines 노 (no) and 잼 (jaem).
노 is a Konglish word, so it means ‘no’. 잼 is the shortened version of 재미 (jaemi), which means ‘fun’. Therefore, 노잼 directly translates to ‘no fun’.
You can use 노잼 for something that is not fun or funny. Watching a movie that doesn’t interest you? 노잼. Going to a club on the weekend doesn’t excite you? 노잼. Had a dull date? 노잼.
Example: 오늘은 하루 종일 집에 있었서 완전 노잼이었어요. (Because I was home all day today, it was no fun at all.)
5. 꿀잼 (kkuljaem) – Really fun
What is the opposite of 노잼? You guessed it! 꿀잼.
꿀잼 combines 꿀 (kkul) and 잼 (jaem). 꿀 can be translated to ‘honey’, while 잼 is short for 재미 (jaemi) meaning ‘interesting’.
Use this to describe things and situations that are interesting and fun.
Example: 친구들이랑 그 클럽에 가려고 해요. 다들 꿀잼이대. (I am going to go to that club with my friends. Everyone says it’s a lot of fun.)
6. 솔까말 (solkkamal)- To speak in an honest and open manner
솔까말 combines a word, 솔 (sol), and a phrase, 까놓고 말하다 (kkanoku marhada).
Here, 솔 is short for 솔직히 (soljiki), meaning ‘honesty’. 까놓고 말하다 can be translated to ‘speak your mind’. 솔까말, therefore, uses 까 and 말 from this phrase, and combines it with 솔.
When you’re having a heated discussion or a heart-to-heart, and you want the other person to be open and honest about their feelings, say 솔직히 까놓고 말하다. Or, you can simplify it and say 솔까말.
Example: 이제부터 거짓말 그만해. 솔까말. (From now on, stop lying. Be honest.)
7. 씨씨 (shishi) – College Couple
씨씨 is a Konglish slang. It directly translates to ‘CC’ and means a couple in the same university.
If you have two friends who go to the same university/campus and are dating each other, they are 씨씨.
Example: 헤어지기 전에, 우리 유명한 씨씨였어요.
8. 붕어빵 (bbungoppang) – Look-alike
붕어빵 is traditionally a fish-shaped bread and is a popular delicacy in South Korea and other countries. However, it also has another meaning– to look alike.
It is made up of two words– 붕어 (bbungo) and 빵 (ppang). 붕어 is the root for ‘Carp’ and 빵 means ‘bread’.
Example: 너는 네 동생이랑 붕어빵이네. (You and your sibling look the same.)
9. 비번 (bibon) – Password
비번 combines 비밀(bimil) and 번호 (number). It directly translates to ‘secret number’.
While 비밀번호 is a word in itself and means ‘password’, it is commonly shortened to 비번 for convenience.
Example: 네 집 비번 누구에게도 말하지 마! (Do not tell anyone the passcode to your house.)
10. 밀당 (mildang) – Push and Pull
We’ve all been here. The push-and-pull in relationships is not an uncommon thing. And 한국어 has a word just for that situation – 밀당.
밀당 combines two words – 밀다 (milda) and 당기다 (dangida). While 밀다 means ‘to pull’, 당기다 means ‘to push’. 밀당 also has a verb form – 밀당하다 (mildanghada).
You can use it to describe the push-and-play dynamic in relationships or situationships. It suggests that things are hot one minute and cold the next.
Example: 요즘 만난 사람은 밀당하는 것 좋아하는 거 같아요. (The person I am dating these days seems to like the push-and-pull.)
11. 멘붕 (menbung) – Mental breakdown
In English, youngsters call it ‘menty b’. In 한국어, people call it 멘붕. Koreans use it to describe an overwhelmed state of mind.
멘붕 combines 멘탈 (mental) and 붕괴 (bunggoe). 멘탈 is a Konglish word, meaning ‘mental’. 붕괴 translates to ‘breakdown’ or ‘collapse’.
Example: 중요한 시험 봐야 돼서 멘붕이야. (I am having a mental breakdown because I have to take an important test.)
12. 행쇼 (haengsyo) – Let us be happy
행쇼 is short for the formal ‘행복하십시오’ (haengbokasipsio) or ‘행복하쇼’ (haengbokhasyo), meaning ‘let’s be happy’. You can use this as an alternative to ‘화이팅’ (hwaiting) to cheer your loved ones up.
Example: 다 잘 될 거야. 이제 행쇼! (Everything will be okay. Let’s be happy now!)
13. 모쏠 (mossol) – a person who has never dated before
Combines 모태 (motae) and 솔로 (sollo). 모태 is short for ‘the inside of mother’s wound’. 솔로 is a Konglish word that means ‘solo’. Together, they directly translate to someone who has been solo/single since they were in their mother’s womb.
Example: 슬프지만 나는 모쏠이야. (It is sad but I have never dated anyone before.)
14. 맛점 / 맛저 (matjeom) / (matjeo) – Delicious lunch/dinner
Food is a huge part of Korean culture. You may be familiar with ‘잘 먹겠습니다’ (jal meokgetseumnida) or ‘맛있게 드세요’ (masitge deuseyo), but here is another phrase that might be helpful around the dinner table.
맛점 is short for ‘맛있는 점심’ (masinneun jeomsim). 맛있는 means ‘delicious’ and 점심 means ‘lunch’. You can change this in accordance with the time of the day. For dinner time, instead of 맛점, you can say ‘맛저’. 맛저 is short for ‘맛있는 저녁’ (masinneun jeonyeok).
Example: 어제 집 앞에 식당에 갔는데. 완전 맛점였어요.
15. 웃프다 (utpeuda) – Something that is both funny and sad
There are times when something makes you laugh and cry at the same time. While scrolling on the internet or listening to our friend’s story, we often feel this emotion. There is a word in 한국어 for this– 웃프다.
웃프다 combines the words 웃기다 (utgida) and 슬프다 (seulpeuda). While 웃기다 translates to ‘funny’ in English, 슬프다 means ‘sad’.
Example: 네가 보낸 영상 많이 웃펴요! (The video that you sent was funny but sad)
Conclusion
Learning slang can teach you a lot about a country’s culture while helping you brush up on your language skills. Acquainting yourself with colloquial words and phrases is a great way to sound like a pro instantly.
Watch out for this space if you want to learn more about the Korean language and culture.
Written by: Megha Pandya
Edited by: the SKAPETOKOREA team