It's Sarang (사랑), the Korean word for "love," though the Korean 'ㄹ' (r/l) sound makes it sound like a mix between 'R' and 'L', often closer to a quick "R" (like in "butter"), so it's pronounced like Sa-rang, not "Sa-lang" or "Sa-rawng," with a slight "R" sound.
🌟 Word of the Week: "사랑" (salang) 🌟 This week we learn a beautiful Korean word! "사랑" means love in English.
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.
The Korean Word for Love: 사랑 (Sarang)
The word for "love" in Korean is 사랑 (sarang).
Sarang is the Korean word for love. You can use it for all kinds of love too… whether romance, family love, or if you loved my awesome language blog.
Korean terms for a lover vary from cute nicknames like 자기야 (jagiya - honey/babe) and 애기야 (aegiya - baby) to respectful terms like 여보 (yeobo - darling, for married couples), while general terms include 애인 (aein - sweetheart) and 내 사랑 (nae sarang - my love), with unique options like 공주님 (gongjunim - princess) or 왕자님 (wangjanim - prince) also used.
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.
As a given name, Sarang can be used for any gender, though in contemporary usage it appears somewhat more frequently for girls than boys. The simplicity and universality of its meaning contribute to its enduring appeal across generations.
Saranghae
“Saranghae” (사랑해) means “I love you”. You can also find it in its more formal form “saranghaeyo” (사랑해요), but it's not used as often since you usually drop the formalities when talking to your loved one.
Pretty Korean girl names
Perhaps the most popular of the Korean terms of love between couples it means "honey," "darling," or "baby," which you'll often hear among couples in K-dramas. You can also just shorten it to 자기 (jagi). Use this term along with Korean love phrases. It's used for both men and women.
"Aja aja" (아자아자) in Korean is a powerful cheer or interjection used for encouragement, similar to saying "Let's go!", "Do your best!", "Keep it up!", or "Cheer up!" in English, often repeated and frequently paired with "Hwaiting!" (파이팅) for extra motivation, especially before sports, exams, or challenges.
The most common Korean slang for "WTF" includes 헐 (Heol) for shock/disbelief, 뭐야? (Mwoya?) meaning "What is this?", and for stronger vulgarity, the abbreviation ㅅㅂ (S-B) for 씨발 (Ssi-bal), similar to the English f-word.
두 개 du gae ("two things") 세 시 se si ("three o'clock"), in contrast, in North Korea the Sino-Korean numeral 삼 "sam" would normally be used; making it 삼시 "sam si" 네 명 ne myeong ("four people")
The "3 date rule" in Korean dating refers to the common practice of deciding whether to become an official couple after the third date, moving quickly from casual "talking" (sseom) to an exclusive relationship, a faster pace than many Western cultures where dating remains casual for longer. It's an unwritten guideline where the first dates assess compatibility, and by the third, couples often establish commitment, sometimes with "couple items" or frequent communication. While still influential, younger generations (Gen Z) are sometimes moving away from this rigid timeline.
사랑해요 (saranghaeyo) is the standard form of saying "I love you in Korean. The dictionary form of the verb "to love" is 사랑하다 (saranghada). A "hada" verb has a regular conjugation, so it should be easy to use in different situations. In the present tense, it becomes 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo). Listen Here: 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo)
As from today, we found out that doing things quickly is a part of their culture and that there is even an expression 'pali-pali' which means 'quickly'. Our conclusion was that 'chop-chop' would be the closest equivalent to this saying.
Korean terms for a lover vary from cute nicknames like 자기야 (jagiya - honey/babe) and 애기야 (aegiya - baby) to respectful terms like 여보 (yeobo - darling, for married couples), while general terms include 애인 (aein - sweetheart) and 내 사랑 (nae sarang - my love), with unique options like 공주님 (gongjunim - princess) or 왕자님 (wangjanim - prince) also used.
Global gems – rare girl names from around the world
Koreans use "우리" (uri - "we/our") instead of "my" to show deep cultural values of collectivism, community, and intimacy, reflecting a worldview where the group (family, nation, shared community) is prioritized over the individual, even when referring to personal things like "my mom" or "my house," fostering a sense of belonging and shared experience. This usage emphasizes closeness, as seen with "우리 엄마" (our mom) or "우리 집" (our house), and extends to national identity ("우리나라" - our country).
“Older sister.” It's used for actual sisters and close older female friends. But unnie isn't just about age—it's about affection and closeness. If a woman calls someone unnie, it typically means there's a strong sense of trust, warmth, and emotional connection. Think of it as a term that blends respect and endearment.
Sunbae (more commonly spelled as "seonbae") refers to people who have more experience in work, school, etc. Whether the person is older than you or not, if they started earlier than you did, you should call them 선배 (seonbae).
Not necessarily! When a man calls an older woman “noona,” it usually means he views her as an older sister. However, it can be flirty if he constantly invites her out, pays for her things, or expresses romantic interest.