Korean word

어머

Pronunciation

Romanizationeomeo

Meaning

  • interjectionoh my

Example

어머, 정말 예쁘다!eo meo cheong mal ye ppeu da

Oh my, it's really pretty!

Illustration for 어머 (oh my)

More examples

어머, 깜짝 놀랐어.eo meo kkam jjak nol la sseo

Oh my, I was startled.

Core concept

A gentle burst of surprise at something unexpected, often with a warm or admiring tone.

Common phrases

  • 어머! 깜짝이야eo meo kkam jja gi ya

    oh my! what a surprise

  • 어머, 이게 뭐야eo meo i ge mwo ya

    Oh my, what's this

Similar words

어머나eomeona: A soft but emphatic reaction to unexpected news, showing pleased surprise or mild confusion.
우와uwa: A strong exclamation of delight or amazement at something impressive or beautiful.
세상에sesange: A mild reaction to something unexpected or hard to believe.

Definition in Korean

어머는 갑작스럽거나 뜻밖인 일을 보고 부드럽게 놀람을 나타내는 감탄사.eo meo neun kap jjak sseu reop kkeo na tteut ppa kkin i reul po go pu deu reop kke nol la meul na ta nae neun kam tan sa

Word origin

The exact historical origin is uncertain, so this word is best learned as a standalone Korean interjection rather than as a combination of smaller words.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English oh my, it often sounds light and can show admiration, so it does not necessarily signal worry or a serious problem.

Other meanings

  • oh dearinterjection
  • wowinterjection

Related words

Word lists with this word