Korean word

어라

Pronunciation

Romanizationeora

Meaning

  • interjectionoh

Example

어라, 문이 열렸네.eo ra mu ni yeol lyeon ne

Oh, the door is open.

Illustration for 어라 (oh)

More examples

어라, 벌써 끝났네.eo ra peol sseo kkeun nan ne

Oh, it's already over.

Core concept

A brief reaction when something changes unexpectedly or suddenly comes to notice.

Common phrases

  • 어라, 벌써eo ra peol sseo

    Oh, already

  • 어라, 설마eo ra seol ma

    Oh, surely not

  • 어라, 왜eo ra wae

    Oh, why

Similar words

어?eo: A brief sound of surprise when something suddenly catches attention.
어머eomeo: A soft exclamation for surprise, often with warm admiration.
어이eoi: A strong call for someone to stop or pay attention.

Definition in Korean

뜻밖의 변화나 발견을 가볍게 표현하는 감탄사로, 말문을 여는 소리로 쓰인다.tteut ppa kkui pyeon hwa na pal gyeo neul ka byeop kke pyo hyeon ha neun kam tan sa ro mal mu neul yeo neun so ri ro sseu in da

Word origin

Its precise historical origin is uncertain, so it is best learned as a short conversational interjection for noticing something unexpected.

Usage tips

  • A light, rising delivery sounds like mild surprise, while a stronger delivery can suggest puzzlement or skepticism.

Other meanings

  • huhinterjection

Word lists with this word