아/야 in Korean: “hey (calling a name)”

아/야 (a/ya) is added to a name when you call someone, like "Hey, Jisu!": 지수야 or 민준아. It is friendly and casual, used with friends, younger people, children and pets. Use 야 after a vowel and 아 after a consonant.

How to form it

How to use it

아/야 goes on a given name when you are calling or talking directly to someone: 지수야, 밥 먹었어? (Jisu, did you eat?). It sounds close and warm.

Only use it with people you can speak casually to: friends your age, younger siblings, children, or pets. Never use it with teachers, bosses, older people or strangers.

In casual sentences, consonant-ending names often get an extra 이 when they are not being called: 민준이가 왔어 (Minjun came). That 이 is different from the calling 아.

On its own, 야! means "hey!" It is fine with close friends but rude to strangers or older people.

Examples

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Don’t mix it up with

씨: 씨 after a name (지수 씨) is polite and used with adults you are not close to. 아/야 is only for close, casual relationships.

Common mistakes

Using 아/야 with someone older or senior, like a teacher or boss. Use a title instead, such as 선생님 or 팀장님.

Mixing up the forms, as in 지수아 or 민준야. Vowel-ending names take 야, consonant-ending names take 아.

Want the basics first? Read Korean speech levels (반말 vs 존댓말).