말괄량이
malgwallyang'i
The English phrase "tomboy" is translated into Korean as 말괄량이 (malgwallyang'i).
말괄량이 describes a girl who is energetic, mischievous or lacks traditional feminine grace. An informal way to say "a boyish girl" is 보이쉬한 여자 애.
Meaning: girl who acts as a typical boy would (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 말괄량이 historically refers to a girl who is unruly or headstrong.
How do you pronounce it?
malgwallyang'i
Did you know?
- While 말괄량이 describes a girl's personality, there is no single equivalent word for a 'tom boy' that is used to describe boys who act feminine. In Korean, such descriptions usually require longer phrases or different adjectives entirely.
- The suffix -이 at the end of 말괄량이 is a common way in Korean to turn a characteristic into a personized noun. This often adds a touch of familiarity or cuteness to the word.
- The word 말괄량이 is rarely used to describe adults. Once a woman reaches adulthood, the term is replaced by descriptors focusing on personality or fashion, as the word is deeply tied to the image of a young girl.
Examples in context
- 그녀는 보이쉬한 여자 애야.She is a boyish girl.
- 어릴 때 말괄량이로 유명했어요.eoril ttae malgwalli-ro yumyeonghaesseoyo.I was famous for being a tomboy when I was young.
- 말괄량이 딸을 두셨네요.malgwalli-ari ttareul dusyeotneyo.You have a tomboy daughter.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Jihun are looking at Seoyeon's childhood photos.
- 서연 Seo-yeon이 사진 속의 제가 정말 말괄량이죠?i sajin sogui jega jeongmal malgwalryangijyo?I'm a real tomboy in this photo, right?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 정말 활기차 보여요, 서연 씨.ne, jeongmal hwalgicha boyeoyo, Seoyeon ssi.Yes, you look really energetic, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon항상 밖에서 놀기만 했거든요.hangsang bakkeseo nolgiman haetgeodeunyo.I always just played outside.
- 지훈 Ji-hun어린 시절이 정말 재미있었겠어요.eorin sijeori jeongmal jaemiisseotgesseoyo.Your childhood must have been really fun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tomboy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
