To call your boyfriend in Korean, use affectionate terms like 자기야 (jagiya - honey/baby), 애기야 (aegiya - baby), or 내 사랑 (nae sarang - my love); if he's older, you can use 오빠 (oppa); or simply his name with a cute suffix like [Name]아/야 ([Name]-a/ya), as couples often create unique pet names too.
What do Koreans call their lovers?
Traditional Terms of Endearment
여보 (Yeobo) - A classic term used between married couples, similar to "honey" or "darling." 자기 (Jagi) - Equivalent to "baby" or "sweetie," used between couples. 애인 (Aein) – “Romantic partner / lover.” A neutral and widely used term for someone you're in a romantic relationship with.
In Korean, 오빠 (oppa) is a common term that women use to address an older male. While it literally translates to “older brother,” its meaning goes far beyond family. Women often use it when speaking to an older male friend, cousin, boyfriend, or even to male celebrities they admire.
It can be either, depending on the language and context: "Gaja" (가자) is the common Korean informal word for "Let's go," though pronounced closer to "Kaja" by many, while "Kaja" is used in some Slavic languages (like Slovenian) as a name or for "effort/work," and the Italian wine brand Gaja is pronounced "Gah-yah," not "Gaja," notes a YouTube video.
Unique Nicknames for Boyfriend
“자기야” (jagi-ya) – Honey/Baby: This is a favorite for both married couples and those in a relationship, but friends might also use it jokingly! “여보” (yeobo) – Darling: Commonly used between married couples, but people in relationships use this too.
The name Suk has its origins in the Korean language. It derives its meaning from two words: stone and strong.
귀 (gwi) noun meaning ear in Korean.
The word for "boyfriend" in Korean is 남자친구 (namjachingu). This is pretty easy to learn. It is made up of two words: 남자 (namja), which means "man," and 친구 (chingu), which means "friend." Korean words like these are great when you're learning Korean or if you're living in Korea since you'll likely hear them all the time.
Korean uses two number systems, Sino-Korean (il, i, sam...) for dates, money, minutes, and Native Korean (hana, dul, set...) for general counting, age, and hours; 1-10 in Sino-Korean are 일 (il), 이 (i), 삼 (sam), 사 (sa), 오 (o), 육 (yuk), 칠 (chil), 팔 (pal), 구 (gu), 십 (sip), while in Native Korean they are 하나 (hana), 둘 (dul), 셋 (set), 넷 (net), 다섯 (daseot), 여섯 (yeoseot), 일곱 (ilgop), 여덟 (yeodeol), 아홉 (ahop), 열 (yeol).
A sunbae is an elder who is in a higher grade or has had more experience. A hoobae is the opposite: someone who is in a lower grade or has had less experience. This concept is derived from the Confucian tradition of filial piety, which states that the younger must respect the elder.
Here is the list of romantic Korean phrases you'll need!
/yeosin/ goddess. countable noun. In many religions, a goddess is a female spirit or being that is believed to have power over a particular part of the world or nature.
Chul: This Korean given name for boys means “firm,” and we like its resemblance to the English word “chill” for a handsome and relaxed, one-syllable baby name.
Kyung is derived from Korean Hanja characters, where the first character, kyeong (), signifies honor or respect. The second character, myeong (), represents bright or clear. Combined, these characters symbolize the concept of honorable and respectful brightness.
Beyond formal variants, Yuna offers several endearing nicknames and diminutive forms. Close friends and family might use affectionate forms like Yunnie, Yu-Yu, or simply Yu as intimate shortenings. In childhood settings, playful nicknames such as Yuni, Nana, or Yunabear often emerge naturally.
On the other hand, 자기야 (jagiya) is kind of “darling," "honey," or "sweetheart" in English. For example, if you're speaking to your girlfriend or boyfriend, you might say "자기야" to get their attention or to express affection. #
Oppa can mean your actual, biological brother, male relatives and cousins, older male friend or acquaintance, male upper classmates, handsome guy (usually a celebrity), darling or honey. Oppa is often used by Korean fangirls to refer to K-pop idols or celebrities.
A nickname for a lover or best friend. I can't wait to see my pookie tonight; it's been such a long week without them. The word "pookie" is traced back to the 1960s as a term used for affection, often towards one's partner, pet, or close friend.
Flirty names for a guy range from classic (Babe, Honey, Handsome, Sweetheart) to more playful (Boo, Tiger, Stud, Captain, My Guy) or creative (like a unique inside joke, or names that reflect his personality like 'Buddha' or 'Kahuna'), with the best ones feeling personal and fitting your specific connection, but always ensure they're used affectionately and not sarcastically, notes Reddit users and Quora contributors.
Here are some cute nicknames for boyfriend that feel as good as his love: