Korean slang quiz
Want to sound like a local? Let’s see if you know this essential Korean slang (not found in your textbook).
Ten words you’ll hear in Seoul cafés, on KakaoTalk and in every variety show in Korea. Each one comes in a real sentence. Pick what it means.
10 slang wordsbeginner to advancedabout 2 minutesno sign-up
이 영화 진짜 대박이야!
What does it mean here? Tap an answer to start.
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Free pack
The Korean slang pack
22 words locals really say and textbooks leave out. Each card comes with audio, an example and when it’s safe to say.
- 22 cards
- Beginner to advanced
Free · no card
What’s inside
22 words
- 대박daebakMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 헐heolMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 짱jjangMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 꿀잼kkuljaemMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 멘붕menbungMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 인싸inssaMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 썸 타다ssom tadaMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 킹받네kingbanneMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 갓생gatsaengMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 내돈내산naedonnaesanMeaning hidden until you get the pack
Korean slang quiz
The 10 slang words in this quiz
Here’s what each one means in Korea, with the sentence it came in.
대박daebak
BeginnerAmazing, awesome
이 영화 진짜 대박이야! This movie is amazing!
With friends헐heol
BeginnerWhoa, OMG
헐, 벌써 열 시야? Whoa, it’s already ten?
With friends짱jjang
BeginnerThe best
우리 엄마 요리 짱이야. My mum’s cooking is the best.
With friends꿀잼kkuljaem
IntermediateSuper fun
어제 예능 꿀잼이었어. Last night’s variety show was so much fun.
With friends멘붕menbung
IntermediateTotal panic, mental meltdown
시험 문제 보고 멘붕 왔어. I totally panicked when I saw the exam questions.
With friends인싸inssa
IntermediateSocial butterfly, life of the party
걔는 완전 인싸야. He’s a total social butterfly.
With friends썸 타다ssom tada
IntermediateTo be in a flirty, not-yet-official thing
우리 그냥 썸 타는 중이야. We’re just flirting for now, nothing official.
With friends킹받네kingbanne
AdvancedSo annoying (jokey)
아, 진짜 킹받네. Ugh, that’s so annoying.
With friends갓생gatsaeng
AdvancedA disciplined, productive life
요즘 갓생 살고 있어. I’m living a really productive life these days.
Fine at work내돈내산naedonnaesan
AdvancedBought with my own money (not sponsored)
이거 내돈내산 후기야. This is a review of something I paid for myself.
Fine at work
Questions
Is this slang still used?
Yes. Every word here is in everyday use, and each answer says where it’s safe: fine at work, with friends, or best avoided. A few sound younger than others, and the answer tells you which.
Why does the quiz show a sentence?
Slang changes meaning with context, so each word comes in a real sentence. Pick the translation that fits. The first three are common, the last three need more of an ear.
What do I get if I unlock the 12?
A free deck with all 22 words, added for you when you finish setting up: the 10 from the quiz (the ones you missed first, each with its example), then the 12 new ones. Every card has audio and comes back for review just before you’d forget it.
Why are so many of these so short?
Koreans love clipping phrases into two or three syllables. Naedonnaesan is four words squeezed into one. Once you spot the pattern, new ones get easier to guess.
Do I need to read Hangul?
No. Every word shows its romanization too. The sentences are in Hangul, each with an English line.