아기
agi[a̠ɡi]
아기 (agi) is the Korean word for baby. Wiktionary also lists 유아 (yua) and 젖먹이 (jeonmeogi).
Meaning: very young human being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 아기 | agi | [a̠ɡi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 유아 | yua | [jua̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 젖먹이 | jeonmeogi | [t͡ɕʌ̹nmʌ̹ɡi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The most common and natural way to refer to a baby in everyday conversation is 아기.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial term 젖먹이 literally means 'one who eats milk', combining 젖 (milk) and 먹이 (eating or one who eats) to specifically refer to a nursing baby.
Which one should you use?
While 아기 is the standard word for a baby, 유아 is a more formal or technical term often used in medical, educational or legal contexts to refer to an infant or toddler. 젖먹이 is used colloquially to specifically describe a breastfeeding or nursing baby.
How do you pronounce it?
agi
When do people say it?
In an informal, affectionate context between couples, 자기 can be used to mean 'baby' and 내 사랑 means 'my love'.
Did you know?
- Because of the heavy emphasis on age and hierarchy in Korea, adults may refer to themselves as 아기 in a joking or 'aegyo' manner to act cute and seek affection.
- In Korean culture, the term 자기 is used as a romantic 'baby' or 'honey', but it originally functioned as a reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself'.
- In Middle Korean, the word 아기 was written and pronounced with distinct tone marks, appearing as 아〮기 in the 1447 text 석보상절.
Examples in context
- 이 애는 내 아기다.This is my baby.This sentence shows how to use 아기 to identify a baby as one's own.Tatoeba #11106371 by intertime, translation #1898108 by CK
- 우리 아기는 아직 말을 못해.Our baby cannot talk yet.This sentence demonstrates using 아기 to describe a baby's current abilities.Tatoeba #8358264 by Eunhee, translation #65556 by CC
- 아기가 침대에서 울고 있었어.The baby was crying in bed.This sentence shows 아기 being used to describe an action a baby was performing.Tatoeba #8361523 by Eunhee, translation #272357 by CK
- 자기, 이렇게 너를 사랑해.Baby, I love you like this.
- 내 사랑, 항상 너와 함께 하고 싶어.My love, I always want to be with you.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dohyun and Subin are looking at a photograph.
- 도현 Do-hyeon이 아기 정말 귀엽네요!I agi jeongmal gwiyeopneyo!This baby is really cute!
- 수빈 Su-bin제 조카예요. 정말 예쁘죠?Je joka-yeyo. Jeongmal yeppeujyo?It's my niece/nephew. Very pretty, right?
- 도현 Do-hyeon아기는 몇 개월 됐어요?Agineun myeot gaewol dwaesseoyo?How many months old is the baby?
- 수빈 Su-bin이제 막 백일 됐어요.Ije mak baegil dwaesseoyo.He/She just turned one hundred days old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries 아기, 유아, 젖먹이, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 아기, 유아, 젖먹이, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
