Korean word

윽

Pronunciation

Romanizationeuk

Meaning

  • interjectionugh

Example

윽 하고 얼굴이 굳었다.euk ha go eol gu ri ku deot tta

Their face stiffened as they said, "Ugh."

Illustration for 윽 (ugh)

More examples

쓴 약을 먹고 윽 하고 얼굴을 찡그렸다.sseun ya geul meok kko euk ha go eol gu reul jjing geu ryeot tta

After taking the bitter medicine, they grimaced and uttered an involuntary ugh.

Core concept

A short sound caught in the throat when sudden disgust or surprise triggers an involuntary reaction.

Common phrases

  • 윽 하고 얼굴을 찡그리다euk ha go eol gu reul jjing geu ri da

    grimace and say ugh

  • 윽 하는 소리euk ha neun so ri

    an ugh sound

Similar words

컥keok: A clipped choking cough made when food or something else catches in the throat.
헉heok: A startled gasp that comes out before a person can speak.
어휴eohyu: A weary sigh used to show tiredness, annoyance, or mild frustration.

Definition in Korean

갑작스러운 혐오감이나 놀람으로 목에 걸리듯 내는 짧은 탄식 소리.kap jjak sseu reo un hyeo mo ga mi na nol la meu ro mo ge keol li deut nae neun jjal beun tan sik so ri

Word origin

윽 (euk, "ugh") is a sound-symbolic Korean interjection shaped to echo the brief throat sound of a sudden reaction.

Usage tips

  • It is casual and expressive, so it fits spoken reactions more naturally than formal writing, where a neutral description is usually better.

Other meanings

  • yuckinterjection
  • blechinterjection

Word lists with this word