Korean · 11 phrases

Reactions & Noises

The best news in this book: Korea's most useful reaction words are wholesome. 헐 for shock, 대박 for awe, 아이고 for every ache and burden — all Grandma-certified, all instantly usable. React like a local and you're halfway to sounding fluent before you've risked a single curse.

아이고 aigo ah-ee-GOH Oh dear / oof / good grief — the sound of Korea sitting down after a long day. 대박 daebak DEH-bahk Amazing! / jackpot! / no way! — awe in both directions, good and terrible. 어머나 eomeona UH-muh-nah Oh my goodness! — the gasp, feminine-coded and fully wholesome. 어떡해 eotteokae uh-TTUH-keh Oh no / what do I do?! — the national noise of small panic. 헐 heol hul Whoa / no way / I can't even — the all-purpose stunned noise. 진짜? jinjja jeen-JJAH Really?! / seriously — the conversational heartbeat.

소름 soreum soh-REUM Chills! / that gave me goosebumps — for the uncanny and the incredible. 어이가 없네 eoiga eomne UH-ee-gah UHM-neh Unbelievable. I'm actually speechless — cold, deadpan disbelief. 극혐 geukyeom geuk-HYUM So gross / absolutely revolting — maximum disgust in two syllables. 뭐야 mwoya MWUH-yah What the— / what is this?! — indignant bafflement. 미친 michin mee-CHEEN Crazy — from 'that's insane(ly good)!' to 'you lunatic' to a genuine slur on someone's sanity.