Hello, Hello Korea readers! If you’ve ever watched a K-drama or listened to K-pop, you’ve probably heard expressions that don’t show up in the subtitles.
That’s because they’re Korean slang words—casual phrases used in everyday conversation, especially among young people.
Today, we’ll introduce 10 beginner-friendly Korean slang expressions, along with their Indonesian translations to help you catch the vibe!
1. 대박 (Daebak)
Meaning: Amazing! Awesome! Wow!
Indonesian: Keren banget! / Luar biasa!
2. 헐 (Heol)
Meaning: A reaction to something shocking or unbelievable
Indonesian: Hah?! Seriusan?
3. 짱 (Jjang)
Meaning: The best! So cool!
Indonesian: Terbaik! / Mantap!
4. 꿀잼 (Kkul-jaem)
Meaning: Super fun (literally “sweet-fun”)
Indonesian: Super seru! / Asyik banget!
5. 노잼 (No-jaem)
Meaning: Not fun at all / boring
Indonesian: Garing / Nggak lucu
6. 아이고 (Aigo)
Meaning: Expression of surprise, exhaustion, or frustration
Indonesian: Aduh~ / Ya ampun~
7. 갑 (Gap)
Meaning: Originally used in contracts to mean the dominant side, but now it means “top” or “number one”
Indonesian: Yang paling top / Raja-nya
8. 솔까말 (Sol-kkamal)
Meaning: To be completely honest / honestly speaking
Indonesian: Jujur aja nih~
9. 핵노잼 (Haek-no-jaem)
Meaning: “Nuclear-level” boring (stronger version of no-jaem)
Indonesian: Super garing / Gak banget
10. 뇌절 (Noe-jeol)
Meaning: Overdoing something to the point it’s annoying or cringey
Indonesian: Terlalu / Ngelewatin batas
Final Tip!
Slang is fun, but use it wisely! It’s best used with close friends, and not in formal situations or with elders.
Learn the context, and you’ll sound more like a native in no time!