What Does "Aegyo" Mean? Korea's Art of Acting Cute
Aegyo (애교) means acting cute or charming in a playful, affectionate way. Learn what counts as aegyo, who does it, why idols are asked to, and the Korean phrases that go with it.
By a native Korean teacher · · 2 min read
Aegyo (애교) means acting cute in a playful, affectionate way, often with a baby-like voice, sweet expressions or little gestures. Koreans use it to charm someone, ask for a favor, or soften a mood, and K-pop idols are famously asked to show aegyo on variety shows.
Word at a glance
애교aegyo
- Literally
- charm, endearing behavior
- In natural English
- acting cute
What counts as aegyo?
애교 is less a single action than a style. It is the cute, slightly exaggerated way someone talks or acts to seem lovable. The word itself is Sino-Korean and has long meant charm or winsome behavior, but today it almost always means "acting cute."
- A sweet, childlike voice and drawn-out words
- Adding cute endings, such as turning 안녕 into 안뇽 (annyong)
- Pouting, winking or making a heart with your fingers
- Playfully whining to get your way
The phrase you need: aegyo-reul burida
Koreans don't usually "do" aegyo with the verb 하다. The natural verb is 부리다 (burida), so "to act cute" is 애교를 부리다 (aegyoreul burida). To say someone is naturally cute and affectionate, say they have a lot of aegyo: 애교가 많다 (aegyoga manta).
애교 좀 부려 봐!
Aegyo jom buryeo bwa!
Come on, show us some aegyo!
우리 딸은 애교가 많아요.
Uri ttareun aegyoga manayo.
Our daughter is so sweet and affectionate.
애교 부려도 소용없어.
Aegyo buryeodo soyongeopseo.
Acting cute won't work on me.
Who does aegyo?
Children do it to parents, couples do it to each other, and friends do it as a joke. Aegyo is not only for women: a man who is affectionate and playful might be described as 애교 많은 남자 (aegyo maneun namja), and many people see that as charming.
In K-pop, aegyo became a staple of variety shows and fan meetings. Idols are often asked to perform it on the spot, which fans love and some idols find a little embarrassing.
Not everyone loves aegyo
Aegyo can feel sweet or cringe-worthy, depending on the audience. Koreans have a word for that second feeling: 오글거리다 (ogeulgeorida), roughly "to make your toes curl." Whether aegyo lands depends on timing, the relationship, and how naturally it is done.
아, 너무 오글거려!
A, neomu ogeulgeoryeo!
Oh, that's so cringey!
How to pronounce aegyo
Say it in two syllables: "eh-gyo." The ㅐ sounds like the "e" in "bed," and 교 rhymes with "yo" with a light g in front.
Questions people ask
Is aegyo only for girls?+
No. Anyone can do aegyo. Men, boys, and male idols do it too, and an affectionate man is often described as having a lot of aegyo.
What is a famous aegyo song?+
The "Gwiyomi" (귀요미) song became a viral aegyo challenge in the 2010s, with a counting gesture that idols and fans copied everywhere.
Is aegyo the same as being cute?+
Not exactly. Cute describes how someone is. Aegyo is something you do on purpose, a performance of cuteness to charm someone.
How do I ask someone to do aegyo in Korean?+
Say 애교 해 줘 (aegyo hae jwo) or the more natural 애교 부려 줘 (aegyo buryeo jwo), "Do some aegyo for me."