Key Facts
- Hangul: 아기 (agi)
- Meaning: baby
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: neutral word for infants, also used affectionately
- Level: A1
Baby in Korean: What Does 아기 Mean?
아기 is a native Korean noun with one sense: baby. Its register has two sides. It is neutral when talking about infants, and it is also used affectionately for a younger partner or a small animal. 유아 appears in formal or educational contexts. It can refer to infants, but it also has a broader meaning: young children who have not entered school.
How Do You Pronounce 아기?
The Revised Romanization is agi. Both syllables are even and short. Because the first syllable is just a vowel, the word begins with the vowel sound itself. Play the headword and then the three examples.
How Do You Use 아기 in a Sentence?
아기가 자요.
The baby is sleeping.
agiga jayo. 아기가 is the subject, and 자요 means sleeps. The marker 가 follows 아기 because the word ends in a vowel; nouns ending in a consonant take 이 instead.
아기가 웃어요.
The baby is smiling.
agiga useoyo. 웃어요 means smiles or laughs. The baby is the subject, marked with 가; 웃어요 describes what the baby is doing.
저는 아기를 안았어요.
I held the baby.
jeoneun agireul anasseoyo. 저는 is I as the topic and 아기를 is the object marked with 를. 안았어요 is the past tense of holding in your arms, so this sentence reports a completed action.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 아기를 낳다 | to give birth to a baby |
| 아기가 울다 | for a baby to cry |
| 아기 침대 | crib, baby bed |
아기를 낳다 is the verb for giving birth, and 아기가 울다 describes crying. 아기 침대 shows 아기 working as a modifier in front of another noun, with no particle in between.
Common Mistake
Mistake: mixing up 아기 (baby) and 아이 (child), which differ by a single consonant.
Correction: a baby is 아기, while an older kid is 아이.
Check: for a toddler who runs around, 아이 or the casual 애 fits better. Reserve 아기 for infants, or for an affectionate nickname.
How Does 아기 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How to tell it from 아기 |
|---|---|---|
| 애 | kid | 애 is the casual contraction of 아이, any child. It does not narrow to an infant the way 아기 does. |
| 유아 | infant / young child | Used in formal or educational contexts; it can include children beyond infancy. |
Visiting a Friend with a Sleeping Baby
A visitor arrives while a friend’s baby is asleep. The parent explains why they are speaking quietly; later, the baby wakes up.
Visitor
아기가 자요?
Agiga jayo?
Is the baby sleeping?
Parent
네. 조용히 말해 주세요.
Ne. Joyonghi malhae juseyo.
Yes. Please speak quietly.
Visitor
아기가 깼어요.
Agiga kkaesseoyo.
The baby woke up.
Parent
괜찮아요. 잘 잤어요.
Gwaenchanayo. Jal jasseoyo.
It’s okay. The baby slept well.
The first line repeats the existing sleeping example as a question. Korean can use the same polite form for a statement and a question; the question mark and rising intonation show the difference here. In the last line, the parent does not repeat 아기가 because both speakers know whose sleep they are discussing.
Everyday Phrases around a Baby
아기를 돌보다 means to look after a baby. It names the caregiving activity, while 아기를 안다 means to hold a baby in your arms. In both phrases 아기를 is the object: someone takes care of or holds the baby. Compare 아기가 울다, where the baby is the subject doing the crying.
아기가 태어나다 means that a baby is born. This pairs naturally with the existing phrase 아기를 낳다, to give birth to a baby. The event can be described from either side: the baby is born, or a parent gives birth. The marker changes because the baby’s role in the sentence changes.
우리 아기 literally means “our baby,” but a parent can use it when English would say “my baby.” 우리 is common when speaking about one’s family. The phrase alone does not tell you how many people are sharing the conversation or caring for the child.
Where Will You See 아기 Written Down?
아기 옷 means baby clothes, and 아기 침대 means a baby bed or crib. 아기 goes directly before the item, without 의, to identify what kind of clothes or bed it is. These phrases are useful in shops and product listings even before you can read a full product description.
육아 means raising or caring for a young child. You will meet it in book titles, parenting discussions and descriptions of everyday family life. It names the work of bringing up a child, whereas 아기 names the child. 아기 사진, by contrast, simply means a baby photo or photos of a baby.
Affectionate use depends on the relationship. Calling a pet or partner 아기 can sound tender in a close relationship, but it is not a general way to address an unfamiliar adult. When describing an actual infant to someone you have just met, 아기 itself is neutral.
Baby, Child and Caregiving Words
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 아이 | child | Broader than 아기; useful as a child grows. |
| 신생아 | newborn baby | More specific to a baby just born. |
| 유모차 | stroller / pushchair | Useful when discussing outings with a baby. |
| 기저귀 | diaper / nappy | A common item in a baby-care shopping list. |
The family vocabulary lesson teaches the people around the baby. For age terms, 유아 can also mean a young child who has not entered school; it is not always restricted to a nursing infant.
Quick Self-Test
- Which marker fits when the baby is crying: 아기가 or 아기를?
- What does 아기를 안다 mean?
- Is 아기 a suitable general nickname for an unfamiliar adult?
Show answers
- 아기가: the baby is the subject.
- To hold a baby in your arms.
- No. Affectionate use depends on a close relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Difference between 아기 and 애?
아기 is a baby. 애 is the casual contraction of 아이 and covers any child.
Is 아기 Only for Human Babies?
No. It is also used affectionately for a younger partner or a small animal.
What Is the Formal Word for Infant?
영아 is a formal word for an infant. 유아 is also used for infants, but it can more broadly mean a young child who has not entered school.
How Do I Say the Baby Is Sleeping?
Say 아기가 자요. The marker 가 follows 아기 because the word ends in a vowel.
Where to Go Next
For more family words, open the people family vocabulary list or browse Korean words A to Z. This page contrasts the baby with the child, so keep the pair 아기 and 아이 together when you review.