How to Say Cute in Korean
Learn how to say cute in Korean. 'Gwiyeowo' (귀여워) means cute, tied to the culture of 'aegyo.' Pronunciation guide + how cuteness works in K-pop and Korean culture.
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Quick answer
To say cute in Korean, say 'Gwiyeowo' (귀여워, gwi-yeo-wo) casually, or 'Gwiyeowoyo' (귀여워요) politely. The dictionary form is 'Gwiyeopda' (귀엽다). 'Cute' is culturally huge in Korea through 'aegyo' (애교) — the art of acting adorably cute, a big part of K-pop and everyday charm. 'Gwiyeowo!' is what you exclaim at anything adorable.
귀여워
/gwi-yeo-wo/ — Korean
How to Say Cute in Korean
“Cute” is a cultural cornerstone in Korea, woven into K-pop and everyday charm through the concept of aegyo. The word you’ll exclaim at anything adorable is Gwiyeowo.
The Word: Gwiyeowo
귀여워 — Gwiyeowo — pronounced gwi-yeo-wo (gwee-yuh-wuh)
The polite form is 귀여워요 (Gwiyeowoyo); the dictionary form is 귀엽다 (Gwiyeopda).
Copy the Phrase
The Korean word for “cute” is 귀여워 (Gwiyeowo, gwi-yeo-wo) casually, or 귀여워요 (Gwiyeowoyo) politely.
The Forms
| Korean | Romanization | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 귀엽다 | Gwiyeopda | Dictionary/base form (writing, plain statement) |
| 귀여워 | Gwiyeowo | Casual spoken (“it’s cute / you’re cute”) |
| 귀여워요 | Gwiyeowoyo | Polite spoken |
In conversation, use Gwiyeowo (casual) or Gwiyeowoyo (polite).
Aegyo: The Culture of Cute
애교 (Aegyo) is the Korean art of acting cute, charming, and endearing — through:
- A cute voice and facial expressions
- Playful gestures (finger hearts 🫰, covering cheeks)
- Endearing behavior
It’s a major part of Korean culture, especially K-pop, where idols perform aegyo for fans. You might hear someone asked to “do aegyo” (애교 부려, aegyo buryeo).
The distinction:
- Gwiyeowo (귀여워) = the adjective “cute”
- Aegyo (애교) = the cute behavior itself
Saying “So Cute”
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 너무 귀여워 | Neomu gwiyeowo | So cute / too cute |
| 진짜 귀여워 | Jinjja gwiyeowo | Really cute |
| 완전 귀여워 | Wanjeon gwiyeowo | Totally cute (casual) |
| 귀여워! | Gwiyeowo! | Cute! (exclamation) |
“Neomu gwiyeowo!” is the classic delighted exclamation at anything adorable.
Cute vs. Pretty vs. Cool
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 귀여워 | Gwiyeowo | Cute, adorable |
| 예뻐 | Yeppeo | Pretty, beautiful |
| 멋있어 | Meosisseo | Cool, handsome, stylish |
Each fits a different kind of attractiveness — gwiyeowo for cuteness, yeppeo for beauty, meosisseo for cool/handsome.
Pronunciation
- Gwiyeowo — gwee-yuh-wuh
- Gwiyeowoyo — gwee-yuh-wuh-yo (polite)
- Aegyo — ae-gyo ( “ae” like the ‘a’ in “cat”)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Gwiyeowo?
'Gwiyeowo' is pronounced gwi-yeo-wo (귀여워). Three parts: 'gwi' (like 'gwee'), 'yeo' (yuh), 'wo' (wuh). Say it smoothly: gwee-yuh-wuh. The polite form 'Gwiyeowoyo' adds -yo (gwi-yeo-wo-yo). It can feel like a mouthful at first, but it flows quickly with practice.
What is aegyo?
'Aegyo' (애교, ae-gyo) is the Korean concept of acting cute, charming, and endearing — through a cute voice, facial expressions, gestures (like finger hearts or covering cheeks), and playful behavior. It's a big part of Korean culture, especially K-pop, where idols perform 'aegyo' for fans. You might ask someone to 'do aegyo' (애교 부려 — aegyo buryeo). 'Gwiyeowo' (cute) is the adjective; 'aegyo' is the cute behavior itself.
What is the difference between Gwiyeowo and Gwiyeopda?
Same word, different forms. 'Gwiyeopda' (귀엽다) is the dictionary/base form (used in writing or as a plain statement). 'Gwiyeowo' (귀여워) is the casual spoken form (the conjugated 'it's cute / you're cute'). 'Gwiyeowoyo' (귀여워요) is the polite spoken form. In conversation you'll use 'Gwiyeowo' (casual) or 'Gwiyeowoyo' (polite); 'Gwiyeopda' appears in dictionaries and writing.
How do you say 'so cute' in Korean?
'Neomu gwiyeowo' (너무 귀여워) = so cute / too cute ('neomu' = so/too). 'Jinjja gwiyeowo' (진짜 귀여워) = really cute ('jinjja' = really). 'Wan-jeon gwiyeowo' (완전 귀여워) = totally cute (casual). 'Neomu gwiyeowo!' is the classic exclamation at something adorable — a puppy, a baby, a K-pop idol.
What is the difference between cute and pretty in Korean?
'Gwiyeowo' (귀여워) = cute/adorable. 'Yeppeo' (예뻐) = pretty/beautiful (예쁘다 yeppeuda in dictionary form). 'Meosisseo' (멋있어) = cool/handsome/stylish. So you'd call a baby or playful idol 'gwiyeowo' (cute), call someone beautiful 'yeppeo' (pretty), and call someone cool/handsome 'meosisseo.' Each fits a different kind of attractiveness.