How to Say Beautiful in Korean
Learn how to say beautiful in Korean. 'Yeppeo' (예뻐) means pretty; 'Areumdawo' (아름다워) means deeply beautiful. Pronunciation guide + how to compliment in Korean.
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Quick answer
To say beautiful in Korean, 'Yeppeo' (예뻐) means pretty/lovely (everyday, common), while 'Areumdawo' (아름다워) means deeply, profoundly beautiful (stronger, more poetic). Dictionary forms are 'Yeppeuda' (예쁘다) and 'Areumdapda' (아름답다). 'Yeppeo' is the casual compliment you'll hear most; 'Areumdawo' is reserved for breathtaking, elegant beauty.
아름다워
/ah-reum-da-wo/ — Korean
How to Say Beautiful in Korean
Korean has two main words for beauty — one everyday and warm, one deep and poetic. Choosing the right one adds nuance to your compliment.
The Two Words
| Korean | Romanization | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| 예뻐 | Yeppeo | Pretty, lovely (everyday, common) |
| 아름다워 | Areumdawo | Beautiful, profound, elegant (deeper) |
Copy the Phrase
The Korean word for “beautiful” is 아름다워 (Areumdawo, ah-reum-da-wo) for deep beauty — or 예뻐 (Yeppeo) for everyday “pretty.”
Yeppeo vs. Areumdawo
The key distinction:
- Yeppeo (예뻐) — pretty, lovely, attractive. Everyday and very common, used for people, things, and appearances.
- Areumdawo (아름다워) — beautiful in a deeper, profound, poetic sense. Used for breathtaking scenery, art, sublime beauty.
Rough guide: yeppeo = pretty (everyday), areumdawo = beautiful (deep/elegant). You’ll hear Yeppeo far more often as a casual compliment.
The Forms
| Dictionary form | Casual spoken | Polite spoken |
|---|---|---|
| 예쁘다 (Yeppeuda) | 예뻐 (Yeppeo) | 예뻐요 (Yeppeoyo) |
| 아름답다 (Areumdapda) | 아름다워 (Areumdawo) | 아름다워요 (Areumdawoyo) |
(Korean adjectives are “descriptive verbs,” which is why they conjugate.)
Complimenting Someone
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 예뻐요 | Yeppeoyo | You’re pretty (polite) |
| 예뻐 | Yeppeo | You’re pretty (casual) |
| 아름다워요 | Areumdawoyo | You’re beautiful (deeper, polite) |
| 정말 예뻐 | Jeongmal yeppeo | You’re really pretty |
| 너무 예뻐 | Neomu yeppeo | You’re so pretty |
Korean often implies the subject, so Yeppeo alone can mean “you’re pretty / it’s pretty.”
Beautiful vs. Cute vs. Cool
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 예뻐 | Yeppeo | Pretty, beautiful |
| 아름다워 | Areumdawo | Beautiful (deep/elegant) |
| 귀여워 | Gwiyeowo | Cute, adorable |
| 멋있어 | Meosisseo | Cool, handsome, stylish |
Each fits a different kind of appeal.
Pronunciation
- Yeppeo — “yeh-ppuh” (the doubled ㅃ is a tense, forceful ‘p’)
- Areumdawo — ah-reum-da-wo (four parts)
- The Korean ㄹ (r/l) in “areum” is a soft tap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Yeppeo and Areumdawo?
'Yeppeo' (예뻐) means pretty, lovely, cute-pretty — everyday and very common, used for people, things, and appearances. 'Areumdawo' (아름다워) means beautiful in a deeper, more profound, poetic sense — used for breathtaking scenery, art, or sublime beauty. Roughly: yeppeo = pretty (everyday), areumdawo = beautiful (deep/elegant). 'Yeppeo' is the casual compliment; 'areumdawo' carries more weight.
How do you pronounce Areumdawo and Yeppeo?
'Areumdawo' (아름다워) is pronounced ah-reum-da-wo (four parts: a-reum-da-wo). 'Yeppeo' (예뻐) is pronounced 'yeh-ppuh' — note the tense/doubled ㅃ (pp) which is pronounced more forcefully than a regular 'p'. The dictionary forms are 'Areumdapda' (ah-reum-dap-da) and 'Yeppeuda' (yeh-ppuh-da).
How do you say 'you are beautiful' in Korean?
'Yeppeoyo' (예뻐요 — you're pretty, polite) or 'Yeppeo' (casual). 'Areumdawoyo' (아름다워요 — you're beautiful, polite, deeper). 'Jeongmal yeppeo' (정말 예뻐 — you're really pretty). Note Korean often implies the subject, so 'Yeppeo' alone can mean 'you're pretty / it's pretty.' As with all Korean, add -yo for politeness.
What is the difference between Yeppeo and Gwiyeowo?
'Yeppeo' (예뻐) = pretty/beautiful (refined attractiveness). 'Gwiyeowo' (귀여워) = cute/adorable (charming, often youthful or playful cuteness). So you'd call an elegant woman 'yeppeo' (pretty) and a playful puppy or a cute baby 'gwiyeowo' (cute). They describe different kinds of appeal — pretty/beautiful vs. cute/adorable.
What is the dictionary form of beautiful in Korean?
The dictionary (base) forms are 'Yeppeuda' (예쁘다 — to be pretty) and 'Areumdapda' (아름답다 — to be beautiful). These are the forms you'd find in a dictionary. In conversation, they conjugate to 'Yeppeo/Yeppeoyo' and 'Areumdawo/Areumdawoyo.' Korean adjectives are actually 'descriptive verbs,' which is why they conjugate like this.