Korean word

홀로

Pronunciation

Romanizationhollo

Meaning

  • adverbalone

Example

저는 홀로 카페에서 숙제를 했어요.cheo neun hol lo ka pe e seo suk jje reul hae sseo yo

I did my homework alone at a cafe.

Illustration for 홀로 (alone)

More examples

아이는 부모가 출근하면 홀로 집에 있어요.a i neun pu mo ga chul geun ha myeon hol lo chi be i sseo yo

When the parents go to work, the child stays home alone.

Core concept

A person or thing stands or acts on its own, without support from others.

Common phrases

  • 홀로 살다hol lo sal da

    live alone

  • 홀로 지내다hol lo chi nae da

    spend time alone

Similar words

혼자honja: Being or doing something alone, without another person present.
혼자서honjaseo: Doing a task alone and relying on personal effort to complete it.
스스로seuseuro: Taking action through personal choice and effort, even when others are nearby.

Definition in Korean

타인의 도움 없이 혼자의 힘으로 행동하거나 존재하는 상태를 나타내는 부사.ta i nui to um eop ssi hon ja ui hi meu ro haeng dong ha geo na chon jae ha neun sang tae reul na ta nae neun pu sa

Word origin

The form developed from an older Korean base meaning alone plus an adverb-forming ending, preserving the idea of acting on one's own.

Usage tips

  • English alone can sound emotionally lonely, but 홀로 (holro, "alone") can neutrally describe a person working without help.

Other meanings

  • independentlyadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 홀로살이hollosariliving alonenoun
  • 홀로서다holloseodastand independentlyverb

Word lists with this word