Welcome to the second post about fun and interesting Konglish examples! While looking into Konglish, I found so many entertaining and common Korean Konglish terms.
These are words that are used constantly in everyday conversation in Korea. Before we dive into the list, it’s important to understand what Konglish actually is, and what it isn’t.
What is Konglish? (And How is it Different from “Broken English”?)
First, let’s answer the most important question: What is Konglish?
Many learners mistake Konglish for “Broken English,” but they are completely different.
- Broken English is a personal mistake. It’s when someone tries to make a correct English sentence but makes a grammar or vocabulary error (e.g., “I go school yesterday”). This is not understood by others and is clearly an error.
- Konglish is a standardized hybrid word. It is not a mistake. It is a new word, often combining English words or shortening them, that is understood by 100% of Koreans to mean a specific thing.
The Konglish vs Broken English debate is simple: Broken English is an error, while Konglish is an invented word that has become part of the Korean language. These Konglish examples are not “bad English”; they are “Korean words” that are built from English.
4 Common Konglish Examples You’ll Hear Daily
Let’s learn some of these words that are frequently used in everyday conversation.
1. 아이쇼핑 (Eye Shopping)
Did you guess what “아이쇼핑” means? This is a perfect Konglish example. It’s literally “shopping with your eyes,” which refers to browsing stores without any intention of making a purchase. In English, this is the same as “window shopping.”
This is one of the most popular Konglish examples because it’s such a common activity. In Korea, department stores and shopping malls are popular places to hang out, meet friends, and walk around, so “eye shopping” is a very common and useful verb.
- Korean Example:
아이쇼핑이나 할까요?(Shall we do some window shopping?)
2. 노트북 (Notebook)
This is a classic Konglish word that confuses many English speakers. In English, “notebook” refers to a paper notebook for writing. However, in Konglish, it has a completely different meaning!
“노트북” (notebook) in Konglish actually means “laptop.” The term “노트북” for laptops first started in Japan, where the name was inspired by the way laptops fold open like a notebook.
So what do we call a real “notebook” (the paper kind) in Korea? You can say “공책” (gongchaek) or just “노트” (noteu).
- Korean Example:
새 노트북을 샀어요.(I bought a new laptop.)
3. 헬스 (Health)
In Konglish, “헬스” (health) can mean “health,” but it is far more commonly used to mean a “gym” or “working out.”
Specifically, it’s used for gyms where you can do weight training or cardio exercises. You will almost always hear Koreans say “I’m going to do health” when they mean “I’m going to the gym to work out.”
You will also hear “헬스장” (health-jang), which adds the Korean word “장” (jang, meaning “place”) to create the word for “gym” (a “health place”). This is one of those common Korean Konglish words that has completely shifted its original meaning.
- Korean Example 1:
저 요즘 헬스 해요.(These days, I’m working out at the gym.) - Korean Example 2:
저 요즘 헬스장 다녀요.(These days, I’m going to the gym.)
4. 에어컨 (Air Con)
“에어컨” (air-con) is short for “Air Conditioner,” a pretty straightforward Konglish word that comes from English. This one should be easy to remember, as it follows a common Konglish pattern of shortening longer English words.
You see this pattern in other Konglish examples like “리모컨” (remote-con) for “remote controller.” Koreans love to abbreviate!
- Korean Example:
에어컨 좀 켜 주세요.(Please turn on the air conditioner.)
Conclusion: Embracing Konglish
These Konglish examples are not “wrong”; they are a creative and living part of the Korean language. They show how language evolves by borrowing and adapting new words to fit its own needs. Don’t fight them—learn them, and your Korean will sound much more natural!
