라임
raim[ɾa̠im]
The English word 'rhyme' is translated into Korean as 라임 (raim).
The word 라임 refers to the sameness of letters or sounds in certain parts of words. 라임 is a loanword from the English word 'rhyme' often used by younger generations and pop culture fans. There is also a formal term, 운율, which refers to the flow and melody within a poem, song or rap, signifying both rhythm and rhyme.
Meaning: rhyming, sameness of letters or sounds of some parts of words, as ‘the poem exhibits rhyme’ (noun)
Which one should you use?
라임 is a loanword, whereas 운율 refers to the flow and melody within a poem, song or rap, signifying both rhythm and rhyme.
How do you pronounce it?
raim
Did you know?
- Because 라임 sounds identical to the fruit 'lime', Korean netizens sometimes create puns by using images of the citrus fruit to represent rhythmic wordplay.
- The word 운율 contains the character 운, which historically referred to the 'cloud' or 'rhyme' used in classical Chinese poetry practiced in Korea.
- In traditional Korean poetry, such as Sijo, rhyme is not achieved through end-rhymes like in English, but through a very specific syllable count and structural rhythm.
Examples in context
- 이 노래는 라임이 잘 맞아요.i noraeneun raimi jal majayo.This song has good rhyme.
- 랩을 할 때는 라임이 중요해요.raebeul hal ttaeneun raimi jungyohaeyo.Rhyme is important when rapping.
- 가사에 라임을 넣어 보세요.gasae raimeul neoeo boseyo.Try putting some rhyme in the lyrics.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Jihun are writing a rap song together.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 여기 라임 좀 바꿔 주세요.Jihun ssi, yeogi raim jom bakkwo juseyo.Jihun, please change the rhyme here.
- 지훈 Ji-hun어떤 느낌의 라임이 좋을까요?eotteon neukkimui raimi jo-eulkkayo?What kind of rhyme would be good?
- 서연 Seo-yeon조금 더 강한 라임을 써 보세요.jogeum deo ganghan raimeul sseo boseyo.Try using a stronger rhyme.
- 지훈 Ji-hun알겠어요, 다시 써 볼게요.algesseoyo, dasi sseo bolgeyo.I got it, I will try writing it again.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 라임, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
