7 Korean Slang Words Young Koreans Use All the Time
Learn 7 Korean slang words young Koreans use daily, from 갑분싸 and 얼죽아 to 갓생 and 존맛, with romanization, meanings and easy example sentences to copy.
By a native Korean teacher · · 3 min read
Korean slang loves shortening long phrases into a few syllables, so 갑자기 분위기 싸해짐 ("the mood suddenly went cold") becomes 갑분싸 (gapbunssa). Here are seven words that young Koreans say daily, with how each one sounds and how to use it.
Word at a glance
갑분싸gapbunssa
- Literally
- suddenly, the mood turns cold
- In natural English
- the awkward silence when the mood suddenly dies
How Korean slang is built
Most new Korean slang is a clipped phrase: take the first syllable of each word and glue them together. That is why a short word like 갑분싸 hides a full sentence inside it. Once you see the pattern, new words become much easier to guess.
Slang changes fast, and some words fade within a few years. The seven below have been around long enough to be widely understood, although older people may not use them.
A good habit is to write each new word with the full phrase it came from, because the long form helps you remember the meaning and also helps you guess the next word you meet.
Iced coffee in winter: 얼죽아
얼죽아 (eoljuga) stands for 얼어 죽어도 아이스 아메리카노, "iced Americano even if I freeze to death." It is used for people who drink iced coffee in every season. Cafés in Korea really do sell a lot of iced drinks in January, so the joke has a real basis.
나 얼죽아라서 겨울에도 아이스 마셔.
Na eoljugaraseo gyeoureodo aiseu masyeo.
I'm an iced-coffee-or-die person, so I drink it cold even in winter.
Living a good life: 갓생
갓생 (gatsaeng) combines the English word "god" with 인생 (insaeng), "life." It means a disciplined, productive life: waking up early, exercising, studying, and keeping a routine. People post their 갓생 on social media in the same way English speakers talk about a glow-up routine.
A related word, 오운완 (ounwan), is short for 오늘 운동 완료, "today's workout is done." It is a common caption under gym photos.
Food and feelings: 존맛 and 킹받네
존맛 (jonmat) is a casual way to say "so delicious." The 존 part is a strong intensifier and the word is quite informal, so it fits friends and online reviews better than a meal with your boss.
킹받네 (kingbanne) is a playful way to say "that really annoys me." 킹 means "king" as an intensifier and a popular explanation is that 받네 echoes 열받네, "that makes me heated." It is usually used lightly, almost like "ugh, seriously?"
이 떡볶이 존맛이다.
I tteokbokki jonmasida.
This tteokbokki is so good.
또 지각했어? 진짜 킹받네.
Tto jigakaesseo? Jinjja kingbanne.
You were late again? That's really annoying.
How to use slang without sounding odd
Start by recognizing slang before you try to say it. Listening for these words in variety shows and YouTube comments is the safest way to learn how they sound in context, and you will quickly notice which ones are mostly typed and which are actually spoken.
When you do try one, pair it with a polite ending if you are talking to someone you just met. Adding 요 to the end of a slangy sentence keeps the tone friendly without being rude, and Koreans tend to find a learner using real slang charming.
Questions people ask
Can foreigners use Korean slang?+
Yes, among friends it usually makes people smile. Avoid it with elders or in formal situations, where slang can sound too casual.
Does Korean slang change quickly?+
Yes. Many words peak and fade within a few years, so it is worth checking a recent source before using a word you only saw once.
Is Korean slang polite or rude?+
Most of it is informal rather than rude. The risk is using it in the wrong setting, not the words themselves.