야
ya[ja̠(ː)]
The Korean exclamation 야 means 'yah'.
야 is used as an informal exclamation to get someone's attention or to express surprise. When calling out to someone, it functions similarly to saying 'Hey!' in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
야 is strictly informal. It should only be used with close friends, people younger than you or during moments of high emotion. It is used to get someone's attention urgently or playfully.
How do you pronounce it?
ya
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 야 to address strangers, elders or superiors, as it is considered rude and impolite in those contexts.
Did you know?
- The exclamation 야 is an imitative sound, sharing a similar phonetic form with the Arabic vocational particle yā.
- In Korean internet slang, specifically on the forum DC Inside, 야 is used as a shorthand for 'baseball gallery', referring to a specific community of baseball fans.
- While used as a call for attention, 야 is also commonly used in K-dramas as a linguistic marker when a character's relationship shifts from formal to intimate.
Examples in context
- 야, 너 지금 뭐 해?ya, neo ji-geum mwo hae?Hey, what are you doing now?
- 야! 진짜 깜짝 놀랐잖아.ya! jin-jja kkam-jjak nol-lat-ja-na.Hey! You really surprised me.
- 야, 저기 좀 봐!ya, jeo-gi jom bwa!Hey, look over there!
Example conversation
Subin is calling out to Dohyun in a crowded park.
- 수빈 Su-bin야, 도현아! 어디 가?ya, do-hyeon-a! eo-di ga?Hey, Dohyun! Where are you going?
- 도현 Do-hyeon나 카페 가려고.na ka-pe ga-ryeo-go.I'm going to a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin나도 같이 가도 돼?na-do gat-i ga-do dwae?Can I go with you?
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 같이 가자.eung, gat-i ga-ja.Sure, let's go together.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 야, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 야, CC BY-SA 4.0.
