What does 아파 (apa) mean?
- 아파apa
It hurts / I'm sick
Casual: friends and people younger than you
아파 (apa) means "It hurts", "Ow" or "I'm sick" in casual Korean. You say it about pain in a body part or about feeling ill.
Where it comes from
It is the casual form of 아프다 (to hurt, to be sick). One word covers both pain and illness.
How to use 아파
Name the body part before it: 머리 아파 (my head hurts), 배 아파 (my stomach hurts), 목 아파 (my throat hurts). 어디 아파? means "Where does it hurt?" or "Are you sick?"
아파 can also describe emotional pain: 마음이 아파 (my heart aches) is common in sad scenes and songs. For a quick "ouch!" people often say 아야! or 아!
Don't mix it up with 아빠 (appa, dad). The polite form is 아파요, which you would use with a doctor or pharmacist.
Examples
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Feeling a headache coming on
A pharmacist asks a customer
Telling a parent you feel unwell
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 아파요 | It hurts / I'm sick | Polite form, e.g. at the doctor. |
| 어디 아파? | Where does it hurt? / Are you sick? | Casual, caring question. |
| 머리 아파 | My head hurts | Also used for "this is a headache" situations. |
| 마음이 아파 | My heart aches | Emotional pain. |
Questions learners ask
How do you say I'm sick in Korean?
Casually, 아파. Politely, 아파요. To be specific, name the body part, like 머리 아파요 (I have a headache).
What is the difference between apa and appa?
아파 (apa) means "it hurts". 아빠 (appa) means "dad". The double ㅃ makes a tense, sharper sound.
How do you say ouch in Korean?
People usually say 아야! or just 아! when something suddenly hurts. 아파! is also common.