How to Say “Oh Dear” in Korean: 아이고 (aigo)
“Aigo” is an all-purpose sigh of sympathy, surprise, or effort — the sound Koreans make at everything from sad news to standing up.
“Aigo” is an all-purpose sigh of sympathy, surprise, or effort — the sound Koreans make at everything from sad news to standing up.
아이고 (aigo) — oh dear / oof
How it feels and when to use it
Older folks say it constantly — it can mean “oh no,” “oh my,” “oof,” or “bless your heart” depending on tone. It’s warm and a little theatrical, never rude.
Politeness levels
- 아이고 (aigo) — Intimate: for very close relationships and exclamations
- 아이구 (aigu) — Intimate: for very close relationships and exclamations
Real examples from native Korean
Here’s how native speakers actually use 아이고 in real Korean:
- 아이고 — (Applause & cheering)Whoa~
- 아이 아이고 — Oh, oh no.
- 아이구..!! — Oh no..!!
A common mistake to avoid
It’s an interjection, not a word to conjugate — Don’t try to attach grammar to it. “Aigo” stands alone as an exclamation. Just match the feeling with your tone and you’ll sound natural.
Related expressions
- 어머 (eomeo) — oh my (surprise)
- 헐 (heol) — whoa / wtf (slang)
Want to hear 아이고 spoken by real Koreans? Search it on Langle and watch it across dozens of real video clips.
Frequently asked questions
- What does “아이고” mean in Korean?
- “Aigo” is an all-purpose sigh of sympathy, surprise, or effort — the sound Koreans make at everything from sad news to standing up. It’s romanized as “aigo.”
- Is “아이고” formal or casual?
- “아이고” is intimate; “아이구” is intimate. Match the level to who you’re talking to.
- How do you pronounce “아이고”?
- It’s pronounced “aigo.” It’s an interjection, not a word to conjugate: Don’t try to attach grammar to it. “Aigo” stands alone as an exclamation. Just match the feeling with your tone and you’ll sound natural.
- When should I use “아이고”?
- Older folks say it constantly — it can mean “oh no,” “oh my,” “oof,” or “bless your heart” depending on tone. It’s warm and a little theatrical, never rude.
- What can I say instead of “아이고”?
- Try “어머” (oh my (surprise)) or “헐” (whoa / wtf (slang)).