Key Facts
- Hangul: 귀엽다 (gwiyeopda)
- Meaning: cute
- Level: A1
- Part of speech: adjective
- Stem: 귀엽
- Conjugation class: ㅂ-irregular
- Grammar: 이/가 marks the cute thing or person, as in 강아지가 너무 귀여워요.
- Usage: Warm and affectionate; for adults it is usually a compliment.
What Does 귀엽다 Mean?
귀엽다 covers whatever is small, lovable or endearing, so 귀여운 강아지 is a cute puppy. It highlights an endearing impression rather than beauty alone. A grown adult with a charming manner can be 귀여워요 too, and the speaker usually means it kindly.
The thing described takes 이/가 and there is no object, because an adjective cannot carry one.
How Do You Pronounce 귀엽다?
The dictionary form is read [귀엽따]: ㅂ followed by ㄷ makes the ㄷ tense. The same tensing gives [귀엽씀니다] for 귀엽습니다 and [귀엽께써요] for 귀엽겠어요. Once a vowel ending takes over the ㅂ disappears, so 귀여워요 is read just as it is written.
How Do You Use 귀엽다 in a Sentence?
강아지가 너무 귀여워요.
The puppy is so cute.
너무 is a strong intensifier here, and 강아지가 names the cute thing.
아기가 귀여워서 자꾸 봐요.
The baby is so cute that I keep looking.
귀여워서 gives the reason, and 자꾸 adds the idea of looking again and again, so the cuteness explains the behaviour.
귀여운 아이를 만났어요.
I met a cute child.
귀여운 stands before the noun 아이, and 만났어요 puts the meeting in the past.
Between them the examples cover a plain remark (귀여워요), a reason that leads to an action (귀여워서) and a description in front of a noun (귀여운).
How Does Gwiyeopda Conjugation Work?
귀엽다 is a ㅂ-irregular adjective. The ㅂ of the stem 귀엽 turns into 우 before a vowel, and 우 + 어 contracts to 워, which gives 귀여워요, 귀여웠어요 and 귀여워서. Before a consonant the ㅂ stays, as in 귀엽습니다 and 귀엽지 않아요. The 으 endings also pull in 우, so the conditional is 귀여우면 and the modifier 귀여운.
To say something is not cute, put 안 in front for 안 귀여워요 or use the long negative 귀엽지 않아요. The because-form is 귀여워서, the if-form 귀여우면, and the modifiers are 귀여운 (now), 귀여웠던 (earlier) and 귀여울 (later); the honorific polite form is 귀여우세요.
귀엽다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 귀여워요 | ||
| Polite past | 귀여웠어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 귀여울 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 귀엽겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 귀엽습니다 | ||
| Formal past | 귀여웠습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 귀여울 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 귀여워 | ||
| Casual past | 귀여웠어 | ||
| Casual future | 귀여울 거야 | ||
| Honorific polite | 귀여우세요 | ||
| Because / and then | 귀여워서 | ||
| If (conditional) | 귀여우면 | ||
| Present modifier (before a noun) | 귀여운 | ||
| Past modifier (before a noun) | 귀여웠던 | ||
| Future modifier (before a noun) | 귀여울 | ||
| Negative with 안 (short) | 안 귀여워요 | ||
| Negative (long form) | 귀엽지 않아요 |
No want-to row: -고 싶다 suits verbs.
Sound Changes
| Form | Korean | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Polite past | 귀여웠어요 | [귀여워써요] |
| Polite future | 귀여울 거예요 | [귀여울꺼예요] |
| Polite future guess | 귀엽겠어요 | [귀엽께써요] |
| Formal present | 귀엽습니다 | [귀엽씀니다] |
| Formal past | 귀여웠습니다 | [귀여웓씀니다] |
| Formal future | 귀여울 것입니다 | [귀여울꺼심니다] |
| Casual past | 귀여웠어 | [귀여워써] |
| Casual future | 귀여울 거야 | [귀여울꺼야] |
| Past modifier | 귀여웠던 | [귀여웓떤] |
| Long negative | 귀엽지 않아요 | [귀엽찌 아나요] |
Common Mistake
Wrong: ✗ 귀엽어요
Correct: ✓ 귀여워요
Why: Learners often attach 어요 to the stem as if the word were regular. The ㅂ has to change into 우 first, and the contraction then produces 워.
Who and What Can Be 귀엽다?
Babies and pets are the classic targets, but the word also fits adults with a charming manner. When a speaker calls a colleague 귀여워요, the intended sense may be lovable, though the relationship affects how the comment feels. For looks in the sense of sharp or stylish, the word is 멋있다.
What Is Easy to Confuse with 귀엽다?
| Word | How to tell it from 귀엽다 |
|---|---|
| 예쁘다 | 예쁘다 is pretty in appearance; 귀엽다 is cute in a charming, endearing way. |
| 멋있다 | 멋있다 is cool or stylish, usually for people who look sharp. |
Looking at Puppy Photos
Two friends look through puppy photos on a phone. The conversation moves from a picture to an earlier visit, then to a description before a noun.
Friend A
이 강아지 정말 귀여워요.
I gangaji jeongmal gwiyeowoyo.
This puppy is really cute.
Friend B
어제도 귀여웠어요.
Eojedo gwiyeowosseoyo.
It was cute yesterday too.
Friend A
귀여운 강아지네요.
Gwiyeoun gangajineyo.
What a cute puppy.
귀여워요 makes the present comment, 귀여웠어요 recalls yesterday, and 귀여운 describes 강아지. The last line adds the speaker’s fresh reaction to seeing the photo. No object marker belongs on 강아지 when it is the subject of 귀여워요.
Common Combinations in Photos and Everyday Talk
너무 귀여워요 usually means “so cute”. 너무 can mean “too”, but in a delighted reaction it often strengthens a positive description without suggesting a problem. The existing puppy example uses it this way. 정말 귀여워요 is another direct way to say “really cute”.
귀여운 강아지, 귀여운 아기 and 귀여운 표정 describe a puppy, a baby and a facial expression. The last combination matters for adults too: a person can have an endearing expression in one photo without the speaker describing their whole appearance or personality.
귀여운 인형 is a cute doll or soft toy. 귀여운 캐릭터 is a cute character. In a shop, these combinations can describe the design of an object rather than a living creature. The affectionate impression is the common thread, so small size alone is not enough to guarantee that 귀엽다 fits.
Where Will You Hear 귀엽다, and Who Can You Say It To?
Photo comments, pet videos, toy shops and conversations about children are natural settings. A customer may describe a key ring or character design as cute. In a drama, a friend or romantic partner may call an adult 귀여워 to react to a gesture or expression.
Calling an adult cute depends on the relationship. It can be affectionate between friends, but may sound patronising when aimed at a colleague you barely know. Adding 요 makes the sentence polite in form; it does not remove the personal judgment. When discussing an unfamiliar adult, describing the photo or expression gives a clearer focus than judging the person as a whole.
귀엽다 is not limited to one gender. It can describe a man, a woman or a child when the intended impression is endearing. It also does not have to be romantic. A comment about a puppy is ordinary affection, while a comment between partners takes its meaning from their relationship.
How Do 귀여워요 and 귀여운 Do Different Jobs?
귀여워요 finishes the description: “is cute”. 귀여운 attaches it to a noun: “a cute …”. To describe a puppy directly, use 강아지가 귀여워요. To introduce the puppy in a larger sentence, use 귀여운 강아지. The first pattern makes cuteness the statement; the second makes it background information about the puppy.
The ㅂ change also appears before the conditional ending, giving 귀여우면. Before a consonant ending it stays, as in 귀엽지 않아요. Learning the modifier 귀여운 alongside the polite present keeps you from assuming that every irregular form must contain 워.
The noun 귀여움 means cuteness. You may see it in captions or descriptions, but it does not replace the adjective ending in a sentence. 귀여워요 describes a cute subject; 귀여움 names the quality. This is the same kind of difference as English “cute” versus “cuteness”, even though the Korean forms are built differently.
Related Words for Compliments
| Korean | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 예쁘다 | pretty | Focuses on pleasing appearance. |
| 멋있다 | cool; stylish | Suits an impressive look, outfit or manner. |
| 사랑스럽다 | lovable | Emphasises affection or loveliness. |
| 표정 | facial expression | Lets you describe one expression in a photo. |
The descriptive verb lesson explains how appearance words describe subjects and modify nouns. For choosing a compliment, decide whether you mean “endearing”, “pretty” or “stylish” before choosing the adjective.
Mini Drill: Choose the Form
- React politely to a cute toy: 귀엽다 → ___.
- Remember a cute expression yesterday: 귀엽다 → polite past ___.
- Complete “a cute baby”: ___ 아기.
- Keep ㅂ in a long negative: ___.
Show drill answers
- 귀여워요. 우 plus 어 contracts to 워.
- 귀여웠어요. The past is built on 귀여워-.
- 귀여운 아기. The modifier uses 우.
- 귀엽지 않아요. The consonant ending keeps ㅂ.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 너무 귀여워요 necessarily mean something is excessively cute?
- Does adding 요 guarantee that calling an unfamiliar colleague cute will feel welcome?
- Which word names the quality: 귀여움 or 귀여워요?
Show self-test answers
- No. It commonly means “so cute” in an enthusiastic reaction.
- No. The relationship and the target of the comment still matter.
- 귀여움 means cuteness; 귀여워요 describes the subject.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Say a Cute Baby?
Use the modifier before the noun: 귀여운 아기. The ㅂ becomes 우 before the modifier ending.
Is 귀엽어요 Ever Correct?
No. The correct polite present is 귀여워요, because the ㅂ changes before 어.
Can I Call an Adult 귀엽다?
Yes. It is often a compliment for an adult with a charming manner, not only for babies and pets.
How Do I Put 귀엽다 in the Past?
귀여웠어요, read [귀여워써요].
Which Words Are Related to 귀엽다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Set it against 예쁘다 and 멋있다 first, since those three share most of the compliments for looks. 아름답다 shares the same ㅂ rule at a more formal level. The ㅂ rule behind 귀여워요 is explained in ㅂ-irregular verbs and adjectives. Then put another word through the Korean verb conjugator and compare the pattern, or browse more entries in the Korean verb dictionary.