Korean married and unmarried couples use Korean endearment terms a lot in daily life. In this chapter, you will learn more than 20 Korean endearment terms with examples.
korean endearment terms with an example sentence
Jagiya (자기야) – “Honey” or “Baby”
most popular Korean term of love between couples, which means “honey”, “darling” or “baby”. The short version is 자기 (jagi)
My lovely poopsie, will you marry me? 내 사랑스러운 자기야, 나랑 결혼해 줄래?
귀요미 Gwiyomi – “Cutie”
귀요미 gwiyomi means a cute person. It is specially used for a girl who looks adorable and innocent.
Here’s a word of advice, cutie. 충고 하나 할게요, 귀요미.
Nae sarang (내 사랑) – “My Love”
내 사랑 means my love. 내 사랑 is similar to 자기야 (jagiya)
I wish my love could be wordable. 내 사랑이 단어로 표현될 수 있으면 좋겠어.
Girlfriend in korean
Yeojachingu – “Girlfriend”
여자 친구 means girlfriend. 여자 yeoja means(“woman”) and 친구 chingu means (“friend”).
He ditched his girlfriend. 그는 여자 친구를 차 버렸다.
Yeobo (여보) – “Honey” or “Darling”
여보 means honey” or “darling”. 여보 is used between married couples.
Don’t you worry, my sweet. 여보, 당신은 걱정하지 말아요.
Boyfriend in korean
남자친구 Namjachingu – “Boyfriend”
남자친구 means boyfriend. 남자 namja means boy and 친구 chhingu means friend.
She’s split up with her boyfriend. 그녀는 남자 친구와 헤어졌다.
Aein (애인) – “Sweetheart”
애인 means “Sweetheart”. 애인 is a gender-neutral term which means boyfriend and girlfriend both can use this term.
What’s her new man like? 그녀의 새 애인은 어떤 남자야?
애인 있는 사람? Who has girlfriend?
Aegiya (애기야) – “Baby”
애기 (aegi) is a cute way to say 아기 (agi), which means “baby.
Just tell me you know how much I love you, baby. 그저 내가 널 얼마나 사랑하는지 안다고 내게 말해줘, 애기야.
베프 Bepeu – “Best friend”/ besties
Bepeu is a short version of the English word best friend. It is a Korean slang word.
My best friend keeps trying to set me up on dates. 내 베프가 계속 소개팅을 주선해줘.
Naekkeo (내꺼) – “Mine” or “My Sweetheart”
내꺼 means “mine” or “my sweetheart”
No, it’s mine. 아뇨, 내꺼에요.
Bu bu – “Married couple”
부부 means “husband and wife” or “married couple.” Couples don’t use this term before marriage.
The couple was / were married in 1976. 그 부부는 1976년에 결혼했다.
우리 강아지 Uri gangaji
우리 강아지 ㅡmeans “Our puppy” or “My puppy”. 강아지 means puppy but a Korean boyfriend uses this term when addressing his girlfriend.
저랑 우리 강아지. Me and my dog.
Gongjunim (공주님) – “Princess”
공주(gongju) means princess which is used by a boyfriend to his girlfriend.
I also want to meet the beautiful princess! 나는 그 아름다운 공주님도 만나고 싶어!
Wangjanim (왕자님) – “Prince”
왕자 means prince and a Korean girl or woman uses this word to call her boyfriend.
The prince lives in the castle. 왕자님은 그 성에서 살아요.
Oppa (오빠) – “Older Brother” (from younger female)
The literal translation of this word 오빠 is “brother” but girls and women use this word to call their boyfriend or husband.
I dashed off a note to my brother. 나는 형[오빠/동생]에게 보낼 글을 급히 몇 자 적었다.
남편 (nam-pyeon) – husband
남편 means husband.
Her husband had been deceiving her for years. 그녀의 남편이 그녀를 수년 동안 속여 왔던 것이다.
Husband in Korean
Seobangnim (서방님) – “Husband”
서방 (seobang) means husband and it is used by a married woman.
서방님 부끄럽사옵니다. I’m shy, my husband.
아내 (a-nae) – wife
아내 means wife
He has recently parted from his wife. 그는 최근에 아내와 헤어졌다.
[name] + 엄마 (eomma)–
Once Korean couples become parents they start to call their couple like baby’s mother/ father. Korean husband use this term [name] + 엄마 (eomma) =“[name]’s mother”. If their baby’s name is Nana husband calls his wife Nana’s mother – 나나 엄마
The baby sucked at its mother’s breast. 그 아기는 엄마의 젖을 빨았다.
색시 (saek-si) – wife
색시 sounds like the word sexy, but it means a young maiden or bride
She’s a new bride, being married for one month. 그녀는 결혼한 지 한 달 된 새색시다
와이프 (wai-peu) – wife
와이프 is a kongllish word which means wife.
Come and say hello to my wife. 와서 내 와이프한테 인사해.
[name] + 아빠 (appa) – “[name]’s father”
Once Korean couples become parents they start to call their couple like baby’s mother/ father. Korean wife use this term [name] + 아빠 (appa) =“[name]’s father”. If their baby’s name is Nana wife calls her father Nana’s father – 나나 아빠.
What does your dad look like? 너희 아빤 어떻게 생겼니?
Friend in Korean
Some other terms to address friends in the Korean language are-
친구 (chin-gu) – friend
남자 사람 친구 – a male friend
여자 사람 친구 – female friend
제일 친한 친구 – best friend
절친한 친구 – great friend or close friend
