Everyday Abbreviations
An abbreviation is a long word or phrase shortened for convenience. Korean speakers use abbreviations constantly in daily conversation. In this lesson we'll learn the most common everyday ones.
1. μλ° (Part-time job)
'μλ°' is short for 'μλ₯΄λ°μ΄νΈ,' a loanword from the German 'Arbeit,' and means a part-time job. Both students and working adults use it naturally.
2. μ μΉ΄ (Selfie)
'μ μΉ΄' is a Konglish blend short for 'self camera' β exactly the English 'selfie.'
3. μΉλ§₯ (Chicken and beer)
'μΉλ§₯' fuses the first syllables of 'μΉν¨' (chicken) and 'λ§₯μ£Ό' (beer). It's the icon of Korea's beloved late-night food culture.
4. μΉ΄ν‘ / κΉλ€ (KakaoTalk / to install)
'μΉ΄ν‘' shortens 'KakaoTalk,' Korea's default messenger, and even works as a verb, 'μΉ΄ν‘νλ€' (to message on KakaoTalk). 'κΉλ€' is a casual way to say 'install (an app)' in place of the formal 'μ€μΉνλ€.'
5. A few more worth knowing
'μν' = 'μμΌ νν°' (birthday party), and 'μ λ©μΆ' = 'μ μ¬ λ©λ΄ μΆμ²' (a lunch-menu recommendation). Abbreviations like these spread fast among peers.
| Abbreviation | Full form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| μλ° | μλ₯΄λ°μ΄νΈ | Part-time job |
| μ μΉ΄ | μ ν μΉ΄λ©λΌ | Selfie |
| μΉλ§₯ | μΉν¨ + λ§₯μ£Ό | Chicken and beer |
| λ¨μΉ / μ¬μΉ | λ¨μμΉκ΅¬ / μ¬μμΉκ΅¬ | Boyfriend / Girlfriend |
| λ²μΉ΄ | λ²μ€ μΉ΄λ | Bus (transit) card |
| μΉ΄ν‘ | μΉ΄μΉ΄μ€ν‘ | KakaoTalk (messenger) |
| μν | μμΌ νν° | Birthday party |
| μ λ©μΆ | μ μ¬ λ©λ΄ μΆμ² | Lunch suggestion |
π‘ Tip: Abbreviations usually take the first syllable of each word. Once you know the pattern, you can often guess new ones on your own.