Korean word

소녀

Pronunciation

Romanizationsonyeo

Meaning

  • noungirl

Example

학교에서 소녀들이 웃고 있었다.hak kkyo e seo so nyeo deu ri ut kko i sseot tta

At school, the girls were laughing.

Illustration for 소녀 (girl)

More examples

거리에서 소녀가 그림을 그리고 있었다.keo ri e seo so nyeo ga keu ri meul keu ri go i sseot tta

A girl was drawing a picture in the street.

Core concept

A young female who has not yet reached adulthood, from a small child to a teenager.

Common phrases

  • 소년과 소녀so nyeon gwa so nyeo

    boys and girls

  • 소녀 시절so nyeo si jeol

    girlhood

Similar words

여자아이yeojaai: A young female child, especially one in early childhood.
여성yeoseong: A female person, usually an adult woman.
여학생yeohakssaeng: A female student who attends school.
아가씨agassi: A young woman referred to or addressed in a polite, familiar way.

Definition in Korean

아직 어른이 되지 않은 여성을 이르는 말로, 문맥에 따라 어린아이부터 십대까지를 포함할 수 있다.a jik eo reu ni toe ji a neun yeo seong eul i reu neun mal lo mun mae ge tta ra eo ri na i bu teo sip ttae kka ji reul po ham hal ssu it tta

Word origin

The word entered Korean through the classical Chinese writing tradition and combines meanings related to youth and female gender.

Usage tips

  • The word describes age and gender, not school status, so a school setting does not determine its meaning.

Opposites

Related words

  • 소녀시대sonyeosidaegirlhoodnoun

Word lists with this word