How to say “baby” in Korean
- 아기agi
baby (an infant)
"Baby" in Korean is 아기 (agi) when you mean an actual infant or newborn. If you mean "baby" as a pet name for a partner, Koreans usually say 자기야 (jagiya), and some couples say 애기야 (aegiya).
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 아기 agi | Any | Newborn or infant meaning. The standard word for a baby. |
| 애기 aegi | Casual | Both meanings. A very common spoken form of 아기 for a real baby, and also a cute pet name for a partner, like "babe." |
| 아가 aga | Casual | Newborn meaning. What people say when talking directly to a baby or a small child, like "little one." |
| 갓난아기 gannanagi | Any | Newborn meaning. Specifically a newborn baby, only days or weeks old. |
| 자기야 jagiya | Casual | Pet name meaning. The most common way couples call each other "baby" or "honey." |
Examples
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Whispering in a quiet room (infant)
Talking to a little child (infant)
Texting your partner (pet name)
Tips
For a real baby, use 아기. For your boyfriend or girlfriend, 아기 sounds odd, so use 자기야 or the cute spoken form 애기야.
아기 is the standard spelling. 애기 is how many people actually say it in everyday speech, and couples like it as a pet name.
Some couples also say 베이비 (beibi), borrowed from English, but it usually sounds playful or jokey.
More on 자기야 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
How do you call your boyfriend or girlfriend "baby" in Korean?
The most common pet name is 자기야 (jagiya). Some couples use 애기야 (aegiya), which sounds extra cute.
Is it 아기 or 애기?
아기 is the standard spelling for a baby. 애기 is a very common spoken form and is also used as a pet name.
How do you say "newborn" in Korean?
Say 갓난아기 (gannanagi) or 신생아 (sinsaenga), which is the more medical word.