Key Facts
- Hangul: 속어 (sogeo)
- Meaning: slang
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Register: neutral; a linguistic term for slang or colloquial words
- Hanja: 俗語 (俗 common + 語 word)
- Level: B1
Slang in Korean: What Does 속어 Mean?
속어 labels language that is casual, trendy or common among a group. The hanja 俗語 combines common and word. You use it to talk about slang, as in 속어를 쓰다, to use slang, or 한국어 속어, Korean slang. A harsher label is 비속어, vulgar slang, and 은어 is jargon or argot, the insider language of a group. The English loan 슬랭 exists too, but 속어 is the plain, established term.
How Do You Pronounce 속어?
Say so-geo, not sok-eo. The final ㄱ of 속 moves onto the empty ㅇ of 어, so the word sounds like so-geo, and the Revised Romanization writes sogeo. Add 예요 and you get 속어예요, said as one smooth unit. Before 를 it is sogeoreul, as in the second example.
How Do You Use 속어 in a Sentence?
이 말은 속어예요.
This word is slang.
i mareun sogeoyeyo. 이 말은 속어예요 says this word is slang. 이 말은 means as for this word, and 예요 follows 속어 because it ends in a vowel.
속어를 너무 많이 쓰면 안 돼요.
You shouldn't use too much slang.
sogeoreul neomu mani sseumyeon an dwaeyo. 속어를 너무 많이 쓰면 안 돼요 says you should not use too much slang. 쓰면 안 돼요 is the pattern for must not, and 너무 많이 means too much.
한국어 속어를 배우고 싶어요.
I want to learn Korean slang.
hangugeo sogeoreul baeugo sipeoyo. 한국어 속어를 배우고 싶어요 says I want to learn Korean slang. 배우고 싶어요 combines learn with want.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 속어를 쓰다 | use slang |
| 한국어 속어 | Korean slang |
| 비속어 | vulgar slang |
속어를 쓰다 is to use slang, and 한국어 속어 is Korean slang. 비속어 is vulgar slang. The first phrase pairs the noun with the common verb 쓰다, and 비속어 adds the prefix 비 to mark the rougher level.
Common Mistake
Wrong: sok-eo, with a separate k sound.
Correct: so-geo. The ㄱ links to the next syllable and becomes a g sound.
Many learners read each syllable in isolation; Korean joins them whenever a vowel follows a final consonant.
How Does 속어 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How it differs from 속어 |
|---|---|---|
| 슬랭 | slang (English loan) | The English loan, sounding more modern. |
| 은어 | jargon/argot | The insider language of a group, not slang in general. |
Asking about a Word in a Group Chat
Jisu has used an unfamiliar expression in a group chat. Alex asks about the word before repeating it to a teacher. Both speakers use polite endings because they are classmates who are still getting to know each other.
Alex
이 말은 무슨 뜻이에요?
I mareun museun tteusieyo?
What does this expression mean?
Jisu
속어예요. 친구들끼리 써요.
Sogeoyeyo. Chingudeulkkiri sseoyo.
It’s slang. We use it among friends.
Alex
그럼 선생님께는 안 쓸게요.
Geureom seonsaengnimkkeneun an sseulgeyo.
Then I won’t use it with my teacher.
친구들끼리 means “among friends”. The reply gives both a category and a setting: knowing that a word is 속어 helps, but knowing who uses it tells Alex more about when it will fit. 선생님께는 means “with the teacher”, with a respectful marker for the person.
Where Will You See 속어 Used?
속어 appears in dictionary explanations, Korean lessons and discussions about language. In these settings it is a label attached to another expression. A teacher can discuss 속어 in an otherwise formal lesson without sounding casual. The register of the label and the register of the word being labelled are separate things.
In a drama, a character might ask what an unfamiliar expression means and receive “it’s slang” as the answer. That answer does not automatically mean the expression is a swear word. Some slang is playful; some is rough. The stronger label 비속어 tells you that vulgarity is part of the concern.
How Do the Common Combinations Work?
속어를 쓰다 literally means “use slang”. Here 쓰다 means using language, so the phrase can cover speaking as well as writing. A comment about someone using too much slang could refer to their conversation, their messages or both. It does not necessarily mean they wrote the words by hand.
한국어 속어 names the language the slang belongs to. To ask about an expression’s meaning, use the question in the dialogue. To classify it, use the existing example 이 말은 속어예요. These solve different problems: the first asks for an explanation; the second tells someone what kind of language it is.
There is also overlap between the labels. A word used inside a particular group can be 은어 and later become familiar outside that group. Learn the meaning and setting of each expression rather than assuming every item called 속어 has the same social tone.
Related Labels for Informal Language
| Korean | Meaning | What the label tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 신조어 | newly coined word | Focuses on how new the expression is. |
| 줄임말 | shortened expression | Focuses on the way a longer form has been shortened. |
| 비속어 | vulgar language | Warns that the wording is coarse. |
| 은어 | group language; argot | Focuses on use within a particular group. |
The internet slang lesson gives expressions to compare using these labels. A new abbreviation may be both 신조어 and 줄임말; neither label alone tells you whether it is rude. Check the example situation as well as the English translation.
Quick Self-Test
- Is 속어 itself a slang expression?
- Which label specifically points to coarse language: 비속어 or 줄임말?
- Can 속어를 쓰다 describe someone speaking?
Show answers
- No. It is a neutral term used to discuss slang.
- 비속어. 줄임말 means a shortened expression.
- Yes. 쓰다 means “use” here and can cover speech or writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does 속어 Mean?
It means slang or colloquial language.
How Do I Say I Want to Learn Korean Slang?
Say 한국어 속어를 배우고 싶어요.
How Do I Say This Word Is Slang?
Say 이 말은 속어예요.
What Is the Difference between 속어 and 비속어?
비속어 is vulgar slang, the rougher end of 속어.
Where to Go Next
For related words, open the internet slang vocabulary list or browse Korean words A to Z. Next, see the slang word for awesome, the slang hub, and review the set in the vocabulary flashcard decks.