KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean vocabulary › Trending words and slang
Korean Vocabulary – Trending words and slang (126 Words)
Words you’ll see all over social media and hear among friends. They’re casual, so avoid them with elders or in formal settings.
Level 1
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 대박 | daebak | Awesome! / Wow! |
| 헐 | heol | OMG / What?! |
| 꿀잼 | kkuljaem | super fun |
| 노잼 | nojaem | boring |
| 갓생 | gatsaeng | super productive life |
| 최애 | choeae | absolute favorite |
| 덕질 | deokjil | fandom activities |
| 먹방 | meokbang | mukbang (eating show) |
| 혼밥 | honbap | eating alone |
| 얼죽아 | eoljuga | iced coffee even in winter |
| 존맛 | jonmat | insanely delicious (slang) |
| 인싸 | inssa | popular, sociable person |
| 아싸 | assa | loner (outsider) |
| 심쿵 | simkung | heart-fluttering moment |
| 가성비 | gaseongbi | value for money |
| 소확행 | sohwakaeng | small but certain happiness |
| 워라밸 | worabael | work-life balance |
| 꾸안꾸 | kkuankku | effortlessly stylish |
| 플렉스 | peullekseu | to flex (splurge) |
| 케미 | kemi | chemistry between people |
| 직캠 | jikkaem | fancam (video focused on one performer) |
| 오운완 | ounwan | workout done today |
| 중꺾마 | jungkkeongma | a heart that never gives up |
| 갑분싸 | gapbunssa | the mood suddenly going cold |
| 저메추 | jeomechu | any dinner recommendations? |
| 별다줄 | byeoldajul | abbreviating everything |
| 킹받네 | kingbanne | that’s so annoying |
| 맛집 | matjip | a popular restaurant known for good food |
| 찐팬 | jjinpaen | a true fan (die-hard fan) |
| 짱 | jjang | the best! |
| 꿀팁 | kkultip | a handy insider tip |
| 셀카 | selka | selfie |
| 인증샷 | injeungsyat | a photo as proof (check-in shot) |
| 레전드 | rejeondeu | legendary |
| 핵인싸 | haeginssa | super sociable, popular person |
| 득템 | deuktem | scoring a great item |
| 베프 | bepeu | best friend (BFF) |
| 현타 | hyeonta | a sudden, deflating reality check |
| 멘붕 | menbung | mental meltdown (total panic) |
| 핫플 | hatpeul | hot spot |
| 사이다 | saida | satisfying, refreshing outcome |
| 덕후 | deoku | devoted fan, superfan, enthusiast |
| 입덕 | ipdeok | becoming a fan |
Level 2
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 만반잘부 | manbanjalbu | nice to meet you, let’s get along well |
| 내돈내산 | naedonnaesan | bought with my own money |
| 인생샷 | insaengsyat | best photo ever |
| 인생템 | insaengtem | lifelong favorite item |
| 가심비 | gasimbi | value for emotional satisfaction |
| 엄친아 | eomchina | “mom’s friend’s son” (the perfect guy) |
| 꿀조합 | kkuljohap | perfect combo |
| 취향저격 | chwihyangjeogyeok | hits your taste perfectly |
| 갑툭튀 | gaptuktwi | popping up out of nowhere |
| 눈치게임 | nunchigeim | reading-the-room game |
| 아무 말 대잔치 | amu mal daejanchi | free-for-all of random talk |
| 가즈아 | gajeua | Let’s go! |
| 갓성비 | gatseongbi | incredible value for money |
| 귀요미 | gwiyomi | cutie |
| 먹스타그램 | meokseutageuraem | food photos on Instagram |
| 맛잘알 | matjaral | someone who really knows good food |
| 얼리어답터 | eollieodapteo | early adopter |
| 대환장 파티 | daehwanjang pati | total chaos (literally “grand mess party”) |
| 입덕부정기 | ipdeokbujeonggi | the phase of denying you’re becoming a fan |
| 꿀보이스 | kkulboiseu | honey-sweet voice |
| 신박하다 | sinbakada | fresh and clever |
| 반박 불가 | banbak bulga | undeniable |
| 갓생 살기 | gatsaeng salgi | living a super productive life |
| 홈카페 | homkape | home cafe |
| 덕밍아웃 | deongmingaut | coming out as a fan |
| 흑역사 | heugyeoksa | cringe-worthy past |
| 인생 맛집 | insaeng matjip | best restaurant ever |
| 웃프다 | utpeuda | funny but sad |
| 금사빠 | geumsappa | someone who falls in love quickly |
| 케바케 | kebake | depends on the case |
| 단짠단짠 | danjjandanjjan | sweet-and-salty and addictive |
| 자만추 | jamanchu | preferring to meet someone naturally |
| 힙하다 | hipada | hip and trendy |
| 뉴트로 | nyuteuro | newtro (new retro) |
| 인생 영화 | insaeng yeonghwa | all-time favorite movie |
| 인생 드라마 | insaeng deurama | all-time favorite drama |
| 정주행 | jeongjuhaeng | binge-watching from the start |
| 짠테크 | jjantekeu | extreme frugality (saving every penny) |
| 역세권 | yeoksegwon | area near a subway station |
Level 3
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이 영화 정말 대박이에요! | i yeonghwa jeongmal daebagieyo! | This movie is amazing! |
| 헐, 벌써 열두 시예요? | heol, beolsseo yeoldu siyeyo? | OMG, it’s already 12 o’clock? |
| 어제 본 드라마가 꿀잼이라서 밤을 새웠어요. | eoje bon deuramaga kkuljaemiraseo bameul saewosseoyo. | The drama I watched yesterday was so fun that I stayed up all night. |
| 저는 올해부터 갓생을 살기로 했어요. | jeoneun olhaebuteo gatsaengeul salgiro haesseoyo. | I decided to live a super productive life starting this year. |
| 제 최애 가수가 드디어 컴백해요! | je choeae gasuga deudieo keombaekaeyo! | My absolute favorite singer is finally making a comeback! |
| 주말에는 혼밥하면서 드라마를 봐요. | jumareneun honbapamyeonseo deuramareul bwayo. | On weekends, I eat alone while watching dramas. |
| 이 집 떡볶이는 가성비가 정말 좋아요. | i jip tteokbokkineun gaseongbiga jeongmal joayo. | The tteokbokki here is really good value for money. |
| 이 카페는 인생샷을 찍기 좋은 곳이에요. | i kapeneun insaengsyaseul jjikgi joeun gosieyo. | This cafe is a great spot for taking amazing photos. |
| 저는 겨울에도 얼죽아라서 아이스 아메리카노를 마셔요. | jeoneun gyeouredo eoljugaraseo aiseu amerikanoreul masyeoyo. | I’m an iced-coffee person even in winter, so I drink iced Americanos. |
| 오늘도 오운완 인증샷을 올렸어요. | oneuldo ounwan injeungsyaseul ollyeosseoyo. | I posted my “workout done” photo again today. |
| 친구랑 새로 생긴 맛집에 가 보기로 했어요. | chingurang saero saenggin matjibe ga bogiro haesseoyo. | My friend and I decided to try a popular new restaurant. |
| 먹방을 보면 저도 모르게 배가 고파져요. | meokbangeul bomyeon jeodo moreuge baega gopajyeoyo. | I get hungry without realizing it whenever I watch mukbang. |
| 두 배우의 케미가 좋아서 드라마가 더 재미있어요. | du baeuui kemiga joaseo deuramaga deo jaemiisseoyo. | The two actors have great chemistry, so the drama is even more fun. |
| 발표 중에 갑분싸가 돼서 너무 민망했어요. | balpyo junge gapbunssaga dwaeseo neomu minmanghaesseoyo. | The room suddenly went awkwardly silent during my presentation, and I was so embarrassed. |
| 그 가수의 직캠은 몇 번을 봐도 질리지 않아요. | geu gasuui jikkaemeun myeot beoneul bwado jilliji anayo. | I never get tired of that singer’s fancam, no matter how many times I watch it. |
| 오늘 저녁은 뭘 먹을지 모르겠어요. 저메추 부탁해요! | oneul jeonyeogeun mwol meogeulji moreugesseoyo. jeomechu butakaeyo! | I can’t decide what to eat tonight. Please recommend something for dinner! |
| 이 옷은 내돈내산이니까 후기를 믿어도 돼요. | i oseun naedonnaesaninikka hugireul mideodo dwaeyo. | I bought this with my own money, so you can trust my review. |
| 다들 만나서 반가워요. 만반잘부예요! | dadeul mannaseo bangawoyo. manbanjalbuyeyo! | Nice to meet you all. Let’s get along well! |
| 꾸안꾸 스타일이 요즘 정말 유행이에요. | kkuankku seutairi yojeum jeongmal yuhaengieyo. | The effortlessly stylish look is really trendy these days. |
| 월급날이라서 오늘은 조금 플렉스했어요. | wolgeumnariraseo oneureun jogeum peullekseuhaesseoyo. | It’s payday, so I splurged a little today. |
| 야근이 많아서 워라밸이 너무 부러워요. | yageuni manaseo worabaeri neomu bureowoyo. | I work late a lot, so I really envy people with a good work-life balance. |
| 퇴근길에 먹는 붕어빵이 저의 소확행이에요. | toegeungire meongneun bungeoppangi jeoui sohwakaengieyo. | Eating bungeoppang on my way home from work is my small joy. |
| 저 친구는 인싸라서 아는 사람이 정말 많아요. | jeo chinguneun inssaraseo aneun sarami jeongmal manayo. | That friend is so sociable and knows so many people. |
| 방금 그 말에 심쿵했어요. | banggeum geu mare simkunghaesseoyo. | My heart fluttered at what you just said. |
| 오늘 본 영화는 노잼이라서 중간에 나왔어요. | oneul bon yeonghwaneun nojaemiraseo junggane nawasseoyo. | The movie I saw today was boring, so I left halfway through. |
| 줄이 길었지만 존맛이라서 기다린 보람이 있었어요. | juri gireotjiman jonmasiraseo gidarin borami isseosseoyo. | The line was long, but the food was insanely good, so the wait was worth it. |
| 중꺾마라는 말을 보면 다시 힘이 나요. | jungkkeongmaraneun mareul bomyeon dasi himi nayo. | Seeing the phrase “a heart that never gives up” gives me strength again. |
| 친구들이 별다줄이라서 무슨 말인지 모를 때가 많아요. | chingudeuri byeoldajuriraseo museun marinji moreul ttaega manayo. | My friends abbreviate everything, so I often don’t know what they mean. |
| 약속에 또 늦다니, 진짜 킹받아요. | yaksoge tto neutdani, jinjja kingbadayo. | Late for our meetup again? That’s so annoying. |
| 서울에서 가 볼 만한 곳이 있으면 꿀팁 좀 알려 주세요. | seoureseo ga bol manhan gosi isseumyeon kkultip jom allyeo juseyo. | If you know any places worth visiting in Seoul, please share some insider tips. |
| 셀카를 찍을 때는 이 앱이 제일 잘 나와요. | selkareul jjigeul ttaeneun i aebi jeil jal nawayo. | This app makes me look best when I take selfies. |
| 이 노래는 정말 레전드예요. | i noraeneun jeongmal rejeondeuyeyo. | This song is truly legendary. |
| 오늘 세일에서 득템했어요! | oneul seireseo deuktemhaesseoyo! | I scored a great find at the sale today! |
| 시험 결과를 보고 현타가 와서 한참 멍했어요. | siheom gyeolgwareul bogo hyeontaga waseo hancham meonghaesseoyo. | After seeing my exam results, reality hit and I spaced out for a while. |
| 갑자기 일이 몰려서 멘붕이 왔어요. | gapjagi iri mollyeoseo menbungi wasseoyo. | Work suddenly piled up and I totally panicked. |
| 요즘 서울에서 가장 핫플인 곳이 어디예요? | yojeum seoureseo gajang hatpeurin gosi eodiyeyo? | Where’s the hottest spot in Seoul these days? |
| 답답했는데 결말이 사이다라서 속이 시원했어요. | dapdapaenneunde gyeolmari saidaraseo sogi siwonhaesseoyo. | It was frustrating, but the ending was so satisfying that I felt relieved. |
| 이 가게 치킨이 진짜 짱이에요! | i gage chikini jinjja jjangieyo! | The chicken at this place is the best! |
| 그 가수의 찐팬이라서 앨범을 전부 모았어요. | geu gasuui jjinpaeniraseo aelbeomeul jeonbu moasseoyo. | I’m a die-hard fan of that singer, so I collected all their albums. |
| 저는 덕후라서 콘서트는 꼭 가야 해요. | jeoneun deokuraseo konseoteuneun kkok gaya haeyo. | I’m a devoted fan, so I definitely have to go to concerts. |
| 어제 일은 제 흑역사라서 말하고 싶지 않아요. | eoje ireun je heugyeoksaraseo malhago sipji anayo. | What happened yesterday is a cringe moment, so I’d rather not talk about it. |
| 이번 주말에 정주행할 드라마를 골라 볼까요? | ibeon jumare jeongjuhaenghal deuramareul golla bolkkayo? | Shall we pick a drama to binge this weekend? |
| 요즘 뉴트로 감성의 카페가 많아졌어요. | yojeum nyuteuro gamseongui kapega manajyeosseoyo. | There are more cafes with a newtro vibe these days. |
| 그건 사람마다 달라서 케바케예요. | geugeon sarammada dallaseo kebakeyeyo. | That varies from person to person, so it’s case by case. |
Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.
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