What does 아이고 (aigoo) mean?
- 아이고aigoo
Oh dear! / Oh my!
Fine in most situations
아이고 (aigoo) is a Korean exclamation that means "Oh dear!", "Oh my!" or "Ugh!". People say it when they are tired, surprised, frustrated, in pain, or even touched. The exact feeling comes from the tone of voice.
Where it comes from
아이고 is an interjection, so it has no word-for-word meaning. You will also hear it as 아이구 or the shorter 에구.
How to use 아이고
You hear 아이고 everywhere: when someone stands up with a sore back, drops something, hears sad news, or sees a cute baby. A long, sighing 아이고 sounds tired or sad, while a quick, bright one sounds surprised or affectionate.
It is linked in many people's minds with grandparents and middle-aged adults, but people of all ages say it. It is a sound you make rather than something you say to someone, so it is not rude to say it around older people.
Learners sometimes use it as a general "oh" for everything. It works best when there is a feeling behind it, such as sympathy, tiredness or exasperation.
Examples
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Standing up after sitting for a long time
A friend jumps out and scares you
A grandmother praising her grandchild
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 아이구 | Oh dear | Very common variant spelling and pronunciation. |
| 에구 | Oh dear | Shorter and softer, often typed in texts. |
| 아이고 깜짝이야 | Oh, you startled me! | Said when someone or something gives you a fright. |
| 아이고 허리야 | Oh, my back! | 아이고 plus a body part and 야 is a classic complaint about aches. |
Questions learners ask
Is aigoo only said by old people?
No. It is strongly associated with grandparents and middle-aged adults, but younger people say it too, especially when tired or sympathetic.
Is aigoo rude?
No. It is an exclamation, not something aimed at a person, so it is fine to say around anyone. The tone can show annoyance, though, so a heavy sigh of 아이고 at someone can come across as exasperated.
What is the difference between aigoo and omo?
아이고 often carries tiredness, pain or sympathy. 어머 (omo) is more about sudden surprise.