Korean word

콧노래

Pronunciation

Romanizationkonnorae

Meaning

  • nounhumming

Example

아이는 혼자 콧노래를 불렀다.a i neun hon ja kon no rae reul pul leot tta

The child hummed alone.

Illustration for 콧노래 (humming)

More examples

출근길에 버스에서 누군가 콧노래를 흥얼거렸다.chul geun gi re peo seu e seo nu gun ga kon no rae reul heung eol geo ryeot tta

On the way to work, someone hummed on the bus.

Core concept

A light, fragmentary tune made through the nose with the mouth barely open.

Common phrases

  • 콧노래를 흥얼거리다kon no rae reul heung eol geo ri da

    hum a tune

  • 콧노래가 들리다kon no rae ga teul li da

    hear humming

Similar words

흥얼거림heungeolgeorim: Soft, repeated singing that does not form clear words.
허밍heoming: Quietly tracing a melody with a low sound while keeping the mouth closed.

Definition in Korean

입을 크게 열지 않고 코로 내는 가볍고 단편적인 노래i beul keu ge yeol ji an ko ko ro nae neun ka byeop kko tan pyeon jeo gin no rae

Word origin

콧 (kon, "nose") combines with 노래 (norae, "song") to form a native Korean word for a tune made through the nose.

Usage tips

  • Because it describes a small, casual tune rather than a full song, it can suggest that someone feels relaxed or absorbed in a task.

Opposites

Related words

  • 콧노래하다konnoraehadahumverb

Word lists with this word