girlfriend in korean
How to Say "Girlfriend" in Korean (여자친구 / 자기): What Koreans Actually Say
여자친구
yeojachingu
Quick answer
The literal word for girlfriend in Korean is 여자친구 (yeojachingu), but couples commonly use 자기야 (jagiya, babe) when speaking directly to each other.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard / neutral | 여자친구 | yeojachingu | The standard dictionary word for girlfriend — used when talking about her to others or explaining the relationship. You don't typically use this to address her directly. |
| cute shorthand | 여친 | yeochin | Slang abbreviation of 여자친구 — universally understood, very common in everyday speech, group chats, and social media. Same meaning, less syllables. |
| couple pet name (gender-neutral) | 자기 / 자기야 | jagi / jagiya | Babe / honey — either partner can use this regardless of gender. 자기야 is the warm vocative spoken form. The most common way couples address each other in Korean relationships. |
| by name (she's younger) | 이름 + 아 / 야 | name + a / ya | If you're older, calling her by name with the casual vocative ending (-아 after a consonant, -야 after a vowel) is natural — e.g., 지수야 (Jisoo-ya). |
How it changes by relationship
제 여자친구 되게 귀여워요.
Je yeojachingu doege gwiyeowoyo.
talking about her to others: My girlfriend is really cute — 제 (formal 'my') or 우리 (casual 'our/my') both work here. This is where 여자친구 naturally belongs — talking about her, not to her.
우리 여친이 오늘 예뻤어.
Uri yeochini oneul yeppeosseo.
talking about her in slang: My girlfriend looked pretty today — 여친 is the casual shorthand between friends.
자기야, 밥 먹었어?
Jagiya, bap meogeosseo?
calling her directly (couple): Did you eat, babe? — the classic K-drama romantic check-in. Asking 'have you eaten?' is a quintessential Korean expression of care and affection.
지수야, 여기 봐.
Jisoo-ya, yeogi bwa.
older male calling younger girlfriend by name: Adding 야 (ya) after a name ending in a vowel is the casual vocative. It's warm and direct — more personal than a pet name in some cases.
Examples
여자친구 생겼어요!
Yeojachingu saenggyeosseoyo!
I got a girlfriend!
자기야, 오늘 어땠어?
Jagiya, oneul eottaesseo?
Babe, how was your day?
우리 여친 진짜 좋아.
Uri yeochin jinjja joa.
I really like my girlfriend.
Usage note
The biggest pitfall: Korean men (and women) don't use the word 여자친구 when speaking directly to their partner — that word describes the relationship to others, like using 'my girlfriend' in the third person. When actually talking to her, they use 자기야, her name with a vocative ending, or a personal nickname. Saying '여자친구야' directly to your partner sounds oddly detached, like calling her 'girlfriend' to her face. This also mirrors how 남자친구 works — both words are for external description, not direct address.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "girlfriend" here?
FAQ
What does 자기 mean in Korean?
자기 (jagi) is a gender-neutral couple term for 'babe' or 'honey' — either partner can use it. 자기야 is the spoken vocative form. It's the most common in-couple term of address in Korean.
What's the difference between 여자친구 and 여친?
Same meaning — 여친 is just the casual, informal abbreviation of 여자친구, common in everyday speech and texting.
Is it weird to call your girlfriend 누나 if she's older?
Not at all — if she's older, calling her 누나 (noona) is completely natural and even has romantic overtones in K-drama culture. The noona-dongsaeng romance trope is very popular.
How do I say 'I got a girlfriend' in Korean?
여자친구 생겼어요 (yeojachingu saenggyeosseoyo) politely, or 여자친구 생겼어 (saenggyeosseo) casually. 생기다 is the natural verb — it means 'to come to have.'
What do Korean couples call each other besides 자기야?
커플 별명 (couple nicknames) vary widely. Common terms include 여보 (yeobo, honey — more married), and personal nicknames. Some couples use English words like 'baby' or 'babe' too.
Can a man call his girlfriend 언니?
No — 언니 (unnie) is used by women for older women only. A man calling an older girlfriend uses 누나 (noona) — never 언니.