바보
babo[ˈpa̠(ː)bo̞]
바보 (babo) (pabo) is the Korean term for fool or idiot.
바보 is an informal term meaning fool or idiot. While it means 'fool' or 'idiot', it is often used affectionately between close friends or romantic partners to mean 'silly' or 'dummy'.
Which one should you use?
In casual speech, the particle 'ya' (야) is often added to the end when calling out to someone directly to form 바보야.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
바보 is an informal word. Using this word toward a stranger or someone older than you is considered rude and insulting.
How do you pronounce it?
babo
Did you know?
- A historical hypothesis links the term to a Chinese phrase referring to 'eight months', implying the person was a premature baby.
- The term uses the suffix -보, which is a common way in Korean to turn a verb or noun into a person who habitually does that action, such as in 'glutton'.
Examples in context
- 나 정말 바보인가 봐.na jeong-mal ba-bo-in-ga bwa.I must be a real idiot.
- 그는 바보가 아니에요.geu-neun ba-bo-ga a-ni-e-yo.He is not a fool.
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun are joking around after a mistake.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준, 너 정말 바보구나!Minjun, neo jeongmal baboguna!Minjun, you are such a fool!
- 민준 Min-jun내가 왜 바보야?naega wae baboya?Why am I a fool?
- 수빈 Su-bin그걸 잊어버렸잖아.geugeol ijeobeoryeotjana.Because you forgot that.
- 민준 Min-jun미안해, 내가 실수했어.mianhae, naega silsuhaesseo.Sorry, I made a mistake.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 바보, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 바보, CC BY-SA 4.0.
