소녀
sonyeo[ˈsʰo̞(ː)ɲʌ̹]
The English word girl translates to Korean as 소녀 (sonyeo). Wiktionary also lists 여자(女子)아이 (yeojaai) and 녀자(女子)아이 (nyeojaai).
Meaning: young female person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 소녀 | sonyeo | [ˈsʰo̞(ː)ɲʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 여자(女子)아이 | yeojaai | ||
| 녀자(女子)아이 | nyeojaai | North Korea |
The terms used for girl refer to a young female person.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 여자아이 is a compound of 여자 (female) and 아이 (child).
Which one should you use?
여자아이 is the standard, natural way to refer to a young female child in everyday conversation. In contrast, 소녀 is a more literary, poetic or idealized term that sounds like a character in a book or a song.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In North Korea, the spelling and pronunciation 녀자아이 is used, reflecting a preference for the nyeo initial sound.
How do you pronounce it?
sonyeo
Did you know?
- Adult women may occasionally refer to themselves or their friends as 소녀 in a playful or nostalgic way to express a desire to feel youthful and carefree.
- While 소녀 is a general term for 'girl', it is the central identity of the global phenomenon 'Girl's Generation', known in Korean as 소녀시대 ('Girls' Generation' or 'Girls' Era').
- The word 소녀 (少女) shares the same Hanja (Chinese character) for 'small' as the word for 'young' or 'few', linking the concept of being a girl to being small in size or age.
Examples in context
- 저는 단순한 소녀에요.I'm a simple girl.Tatoeba #5526752 by raining211, translation #3824433 by CK
- 그 금발 소녀는 정말 멋진 가슴 골을 가지고 있다.The blonde girl has a really nice cleavage.Tatoeba #1533015 by mysonhs, translation #1506211 by marco87
- 아가씨가 옆에 있어요The girl is right next to me.
- 그 소녀는 피아노를 정말 잘 쳐요.geu sonyeoneun piano-reul jeongmal jal chyeoyo.That girl plays the piano really well.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are looking at a photo of a child.
- 민준 Min-jun이 소녀는 누구예요?i sonyeoneun nuguyeyo?Who is this girl?
- 민지 Min-ji제 조카예요.je joka-yeyo.She is my niece.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 귀여운 소녀네요.jeongmal gwiyeoun sonyene-yo.She is such a cute girl.
- 민지 Min-ji감사합니다, 민준 씨.gamsahamnida, Minjun ssi.Thank you, Minjun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “girl” translations and entries 소녀, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 소녀, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
