세상에
sesang'e[ˈsʰe̞(ː)sʰa̠ŋe̞]
The English phrase 'oh my lord' can be translated into Korean as 세상에 (sesang'e).
세상에 is used as an exclamation to express surprise, shock or disbelief, much like saying 'Oh my god!' or 'My goodness!' in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 세상에 literally translates to 'in the world'.
Which one should you use?
You can use the more emphatic version 세상에나 in colloquial speech to make the exclamation feel more emotive. For a more casual expression of surprise, shock or excitement, you can also use 어머. If you wish to express surprise, exasperation or annoyance in informal conversations, 아이고 is a common choice.
How do you pronounce it?
sesang'e
Did you know?
- In many Western languages, 'Oh my lord' might imply a religious context, but 세상에 is entirely secular. It is used by people of all faiths, or no faith, as a purely linguistic tool for surprise.
- While 세상에 is a safe, gender-neutral exclamation, the alternative 어머 is culturally associated more strongly with women. Using 어머 in a group of men might sound out of place or overly feminine.
- Because 세상에 literally means 'in the world', using it to express shock is like saying 'In the world!' in English. It is a way of expressing that a situation is so unbelievable it defies the logic of the entire world.
Examples in context
- 아이구That's incredible!
- 어머나You scared me!
- 세상에, 정말 예뻐요!sesange, jeongmal yeppeoyo!Oh my lord, it is so pretty!
- 세상에, 이게 무슨 일이에요?sesange, ige museun irieyo?Oh my lord, what is happening?
- 세상에, 깜짝 놀랐잖아요.sesange, kkamjjak nollatjannayo.Oh my lord, you startled me.
Example conversation
Seoyeon shows Jihun a surprising photo on her phone.
- 서연 Seo-yeon세상에, 이 사진 좀 봐!sesange, i sajin jom bwa!Oh my lord, look at this photo!
- 지훈 Ji-hun우와, 정말 신기하다.uwa, jeongmal singihada.Wow, that's really amazing.
- 서연 Seo-yeon어디서 찍은 거래?eodiseo jjigeun georae?Where do they say it was taken?
- 지훈 Ji-hun잘 모르겠는데, 정말 멋져.jal moreugenneunde, jeongmal meotjyeo.I'm not sure, but it's really cool.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 세상에, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
