What does 더워 (deowo) mean?
- 더워deowo
It's hot
Casual: friends and people younger than you
더워 (deowo) means "It's hot" or "I'm hot" in casual Korean. It is used for hot weather or a hot room, not for hot food or spicy taste.
Where it comes from
It is the casual form of 덥다 (to be hot). The ㅂ in 덥다 changes to 우 when an ending is added, which gives 더워.
How to use 더워
Say 더워 on a sticky summer day, in a crowded bus, or when the heating is too high. Koreans also love the exaggeration 더워 죽겠어 (I'm dying of heat).
Korean uses different words for different kinds of hot. 더워 is for air and weather, 뜨거워 is for things that are hot to touch, like soup or coffee, and 매워 is for spicy food.
The polite form is 더워요. To ask if someone is hot, say 더워? or 더워요?
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Stepping outside in August
Complaining to a friend
Asking a coworker coming in from outside
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 더워요 | It's hot | Polite form. |
| 더워 죽겠어 | I'm dying of heat | Casual exaggeration, very common. |
| 덥지? | It's hot, right? | Casual, seeking agreement. |
| 뜨거워 | It's hot (to touch) | For hot objects, food and drinks. |
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between deowo and tteugeowo?
더워 is for hot weather or air. 뜨거워 is for things that are hot to touch, like a cup of tea.
How do you say spicy in Korean?
매워 (maewo). 더워 is never used for spicy food.
How do you say it's hot politely?
Say 더워요, or 덥네요 when you are commenting on it.