아이고
aigo
In Korean, 'oh gosh' is expressed as 아이고 (aigo).
아이고 is a versatile exclamation used to express a wide range of emotions, including surprise, frustration, exhaustion or sympathy. Other ways to express 'oh gosh' include 어머나, which is often used by older generations to convey surprise or astonishment while maintaining a polite tone and 우와, which is an expressive term used to convey astonishment or positive surprise in a casual setting.
Which one should you use?
While 아이고 can be used in most social settings, 아이고야 is a colloquial variation created by adding the particle '야' to the end to heighten the emotional impact of the exclamation.
How do you pronounce it?
aigo
Did you know?
- While it translates to 'oh gosh', 아이고 is frequently used by older generations as a rhythmic accompaniment to the physical effort of sitting down or standing up from the floor.
- The word 아이고 is of native Korean origin.
- If you are extremely impressed, using 아이고 might actually sound sarcastic or patronizing. To ensure you sound genuinely amazed, it is safer to use 우와 instead.
Examples in context
- 아이고, 깜짝이야!aigo, kkamjjakiya!Oh gosh, you startled me!
- 아이고, 벌써 시간이 이렇게 됐나?aigo, beolsseo sigani ireoke dwaenna?Oh gosh, is it that time already?
- 아이고, 허리야.aigo, heoriya.Oh gosh, my back.
Example conversation
Minji and Hyunwoo see a small kitten stuck in a tree.
- 민지 Min-ji아이고, 저 고양이 좀 봐!aigo, jeo goyang-i jom bwa!Oh gosh, look at that cat!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말 위험해 보이네.jeongmal wiheomhae boine.It looks really dangerous.
- 민지 Min-ji아이고, 어떡하면 좋지?aigo, eotteokhamyeon joji?Oh gosh, what should we do?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo내가 도와줄게.naega dowajulge.I will help.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 아이고, CC BY-SA 4.0.
