Popular and Important Korean Words

In this article, we share a list of Korean words. It includes popular and important expressions for people who are learning Korean or simply enjoy Korean culture.

Many of these words appear often in dramas and K-pop songs. If you enjoy the article, feel free to share it and leave a comment. We also recommend our article about Koreaboo. The list of Korean words is below.

Read also: Meaning of Koreaboo – Are you addicted to Korea?

200 Korean Words

• Abŏji [아버지] - Father (when adult);
• Ahyu [아휴] - expression used when someone says something silly;
• Aigo [아이고] - My God! / Heavens;
• Aigu [아이구] - same meaning as aigo;
• Aish [에이스] - What a drag;
• Aisŭ crim [아이스 크림] - Ice cream;
• Aja Aja Hwaiting/Fighting [아자 아자 화이팅 / 파이팅!] - Go! Good luck!;
• Ajumma [아줌마] – Lady/aunt;
• Ajŏsshi [아저씨] – Sir/uncle;
• Algesumnida [알겠습니다] – I understood (formal);
• Andoé [안돼] - I can't;
• Ani [아니] - no (informal);
• Ani'yeyo [아니예요] - no;
• Annyŏn haseyo [안녕하세요] - Good morning;
• Annyŏn haseyo? [안녕하세요?] - How are you? (q);
• Annyŏngi jumuseyo [안녕히 주무세요] - Good night;
• Anya [아니아] - no;
• Anyo [아뇨] - no;
• Apayo [아파요] - It hurts;
• Appa [아빠] - Father (when child);
• Arabŏji [할아버지] - grandfather;
• Arasso [알았어] – I understood (informal);
• Assa [아싸] - Cool, super, awesome;
• Babo [바보] - idiot/fool;
• Baegopa [배고파] - I'm hungry;
• Banmal [반말] - informal language;
• Bap masheopta [밥맛없다] - someone who makes you lose your appetite;
• Baramdungi [바람둥이] - womanizer;
• Batji [봤지] - Did you see? (q);
• Bi'utjima [비웃지마] - don't laugh at me.;
• Bogoshipŏ [보고 싶어] - I want to see you / I miss you;
• Bojima! [보지 마!] - Don't look;
• Byeonshin [병신] - idiot, fool;
• Byeontae [변태] - pervert;
• Chada [차다] - to reject, to dump someone;
• Chaebol [재벌] - Heir of a conglomerate. They are the richest in Korea;
• Chal mokkessŭmnida [잘먹겠습니다] – Enjoy your meal;
• Chamkkanmanyo [잠깐만요] - wait a moment. (informal);
• Chamshimanyo [잠시만요] - one moment, please. (on the phone);
• Cheson'hamnida [죄송합니다] (formal);
• Chingu [친구] - Friend;
• Chiwo juseyo [치워주세요] – clean up, please;
• Chochijima [초치지마] - Don't ruin the mood;
• Chogŭn [조금] - A little;
• Chugŭlle? [죽을래?] - do you want to die? (q);
• Chukahe / chukahe [축하해]: Congratulations (informal);
• Chŏnmal? [정말?] - really? / seriously? (q);
• Chŏnmallyo? [정말요?] - seriously? / are you serious? (q);
• Chŏnmaneyo [천만에요] - You're welcome;
• Colle [걸레] - bitch;
• Daebak! [대박!] - Awesome!;
• Dakchyeo [닥쳐!] – shut up;
• Dansunppang [단순빵] - naive person;
• Dijillae? [디질래?] - Do you want to get hit? (q);
• Dolda [돌다] - crazy, lunatic;
• Dolgegari [돌대가리] - idiot;
• Dongsen' [동생] - younger brother/sister;
• Dwipuk [뒷북] - boring person;
• Eoljjang [얼짱] - The best;
• Eolmayeyo? [얼마예요?] - How much is it?;
• Ettoke jinaesseo? [어떻게 지냈어?] - How have you been? (q);
• Gaesaekki [개새끼] - son of a bitch;
• Ganji [간지] - cool person;
• Ganjikyo [간지교] - stylish man;
• Geuge eodinde? [그게 어딘데?] - That's better than nothing;
• Geumsappa [금사빠] - person who falls in love quickly or at first sight;
• Godapi [고답이] - person who is slow to understand things;
• Gogi mul jotta! [거기 물 좋다] - What a cool place! and similar;
• Gonjubyeong [공주병] - 'princess syndrome' (conceited);
• Haengsyo [행쇼] - Be happy / Peace;
• Hajima [하지마] - Don't do that;
• Halmoni [할머니] - grandmother;
• Hangsang [항상] - Always;
• Hangunŭl bimnida! [행운을 빕니다]: Good luck;
• Hansang haenbokaseyo [항상 행복하세요] - Always be happy;
• Hossori hajima [헛소라 하지마!] - Don't talk nonsense;
• Hubae [후배] - Someone in a lower grade;
• Hwanyŏn'hamnida [환영합니다]: Welcome;
• Hyung [형] – from a younger boy to an older boy;
• Hól [헐] - slang used when you are shocked or surprised by something;
• Hŏni [허니] - Honey (pronunciation similar to 'honey' in English);
• I noma [이 놈아] - you bastard, you jerk;
• I-sekiya [이 섹이야] - bastard;
• Ige mwŏyeyo? [이게 뭐예요?] - What is this? (q);
• Ippeuni [이쁜이] - pretty, beautiful;
• Jaesu eopta [재수없다] - unlucky person;
• Jagiya [자기야] - Darling. (Used between couples, married or not);
• Jal haesseo! [잘 했어!] - Well done! Great job;
• Jang [짱] - Cool, awesome;
• Jariseoseo? [잘 있었어?] - Are you okay? (q);
• Jebal [제발] - please;
• Jeneun nallarya [쟤는 날라리야] - he is a flirt;
• Jeontemal [전대말] - formal language;
• Jinjja? [진짜?] - really? / seriously? (q);
• Jiral [지랄] - shit;
• Jo'ahaeyo [좋아해요] – I like you;
• Jonna [존나] - very, a lot;
• Jŏgyo [저기요] - excuse me.;
• Ka! [가] - Go away;
• Kaja [가자] - Let's go;
• Kajima [가지마] - don't go away;
• Kalkke [갈께] - see you later;
• Kamsamnida [감사합니다] - Thank you. (formal);
• Keojeonma [걱정마] - Don't worry;
• Keurom [그럼] - Of course!;
• Kinka [킹카] - sexy man, handsome, good-looking…;
• Kkamjagya [깜짝이야] - What a scare!;
• Kkominam [꽃미남] - "Flower Boy". Handsome man;
• Komawo [고마워] – Thank you. (informal);
• Kombek [컴백] - Comeback;
• Kwenchana? [괜찮아?] - are you okay? (q);
• Kwenchanayo [괜찮아요] - no problem;
• Kwinka [괸카] - sexy woman, good-looking…;
• Kŏjyeo! [거져!] - disappear! / Get lost;
• Kŏmbe! [건배] - Cheers;
• Kŭre [그래] - Yes. I agree;
• Maknae [막내] - youngest person in a group/family;
• Mannasŏ Pangapsŭmnida [만나서 반갑습니다] - Nice to meet you. (formal);
• Mannasŏ Pangawoyo [만나서 반가워요] - Nice to meet you. (informal);
• Mashitta [맛있다] – delicious;
• Menpung [멘붕 - 멘탈 붕괴] - mental breakdown.;
• Meojyeo [멋져!] – How cool!;
• Mian'e [미안해] (informal);
• Mian'eyo [미안해요] (informal);
• Michin nom [미친놈] - crazy person;
• Michyŏsŏ? [미쳤어?] - are you crazy? (q);
• Mogo! [먹어!] - eat;
• Molla [몰라] - I don't know;
• Momchi [몸치] - person who can't dance;
• Momjjang [몸짱] - person with a nice body;
• Musŭn mariya? [무슨 말이야?] - what do you mean? (q);
• Mwo? [뭐?] - What? (q);
• Mwohaneun jishya? [뭐하는 짓이야?] - What are you doing? (q);
• Mworago? [뭐라고?] - what did you say? (q);
• Myŏsshiyeyo? [몇시예요?] - What time is it? (q);
• Naeseonjil geondeulijima [내성질 건드리지 마] - Don't test my patience;
• Naga! [나가!] - Get out of here;
• Najunge bwaeyo! [나중에 봬요!] - See you later;
• Namja [남자] - man;
• Namjachingu [남자친구] or Namchin (남친) – boyfriend;
• Nappeun nom [나쁜 놈] - bastard, bad character;
• Nappeun nyeon [나쁜 년] - 'bitch';
• Ne [네] - yes (polite);
• Neo pijeonni? [너 삐졌니?] - Are you upset with me? (q);
• Neom [넘] - very (contracted form of 너무);
• Neona jal hae [너나 잘 해] - It's none of your business;
• Nom [놈] - dude, buddy, mate;
• Noona/Nuna [누나] - from a younger boy to an older girl;
• Noraebang [노래방] - karaoke;
• Odigaseyo? [어디가세요?] - Where are you going? (q);
• Ohae hajimaseyo [오해 하지 마세요] - Don't misunderstand me;
• Omchon [엄천] - very;
• Omma [엄마] - Mother (when child);
• Ommŏni [어머니] - Mother (when adult);
• Omona [어머나] or Omo (어머) - It's the same as saying "Wow!!". (surprise);
• Onjena [언제나] - Always;
• Oppa [오빠] - from a younger girl to an older boy;
• Oreganmanida [오래간만이다] - Long time no see;
• Ottŏke? [어떡해?] - What should I do? / What should I do? (q);
• Pakchinda [빡친다] - when you are very angry and swear a lot, that's roughly the meaning of this word;
• Palli Palli [빨리빨리] – Hurry up! Hurry!;
• Pap song [팝송] - pop song;
• Pikyeo juseyo [비켜 주세요] – excuse me, please;
• Popo [뽀뽀] - kiss;
• Korean giggles [colocar em mensagens]:;
• Sae'il chukadŭrimnida! [생일 축하드립니다!]: Happy Birthday! (formal);
• Sae'il chukahamnida! [생일 축하합니다!]: Happy Birthday! (formal);
• Sae'il chukahe [생일축하해]: Happy Birthday! (informal);
• Sae-il chukahae [생일 축하해] = Happy birthday;
• Saedaegari [새대가리] - bird brain;
• Saekki [새끼] - jerk;
• Sagaji [싸가지] - rude, impolite person;
• Saran'ah [사랑아] - my love;
• Saran'hae [사랑해] - I love you;
• Saran'haeyo [사랑해요] - I love you;
• Sarang [사랑] - love;
• Seolleon'hagun [썰렁하군] - What a lame joke;
• Seulpeo hajima [슬퍼하지마] - Don't be sad;
• Shibal [씨발] - damn;
• Shirŏ [싫어] - I don't want to;
• Sonyŏ [소녀] - girl;
• Sonyŏn [소년] - boy;
• Sulgorae [술고래] - someone who drinks a lot (drunkard);
• Sunbae [선배] - someone in a higher grade;
• Sunjinppang [순진빵] - naive person, innocent;
• Ton dongori [똥 덩어리] - piece of shit.;
• Ttorayi [또라이] - person who acts out of the ordinary;
• Tuejyeo [뒈져] - fuck off, get lost, go to hell…and similar;
• Tueso [됐어] - Forget it, let it go;
• Unmyeong [운명] - destiny;
• Unnie [언니] – from a younger girl to an older girl;
• Uwa [우와] - wow! (surprise);
• Wae keure [왜그래] - Why are you acting like this? (q);
• Wae? [왜?] - why? (q);
• Wan shot! [원샷!] "Cheers" (drink);
• Wanjabyeong [왕자병] - 'prince syndrome' (conceited);
• Ya! Chingu! [야! 친구!] - Hello, friend! (informal);
• Yaegiya [애기야] - baby (used a lot among teenagers);
• Yaksok [약속] - promise;
• Ye [예] - yes;
• Yeppŭda [예쁘다] - pretty;
• Yŏboya [여보야] - Dear. (only between husband and wife);
• Yŏgi [여기] – Here;
• Yŏgiyo [여기요] - here, please. (used to call someone);
• Yŏja [여자] - woman;
• Yŏjachingu [여자친구] or Yŏchin (여친) – girlfriend;