What does 어이없어 (eoieopseo) mean?
- 어이없어eoieopseo
Unbelievable / ridiculous
Casual: friends and people younger than you
어이없어 (eoieopseo) means "This is ridiculous!", "Unbelievable!" or "I'm speechless". Koreans say it when something is so absurd, unfair or silly that they don't know how to react. It is a casual form of the adjective 어이없다.
Where it comes from
It is literally "there is no 어이". It is close in meaning to 어처구니없다, which also means "absurd". Popular stories explain 어이 as part of a millstone, but the origin is uncertain, so it is best simply learned as "absurd".
How to use 어이없어
Use 어이없어 when someone does something outrageous, like cutting in line, or when news is so silly it makes you laugh in disbelief. It can be annoyed or amused, depending on tone.
It is casual, so use it with friends. With people you should be polite to, 어이없어요 is the polite form, but saying it about something they did will still sound like a complaint.
Shorter reactions with a similar feeling are 헐 (heol) and 뭐야 (mwoya). 어이없네 adds a sense of just realizing how ridiculous something is.
Examples
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Someone cuts in front of you in line
Reading a silly news headline
Telling a friend about a strange situation
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 어이없어요 | That's ridiculous | Polite form. |
| 어이없네 | Wow, that's ridiculous | Adds a sense of realization. |
| 어이가 없다 | That's absurd | Full form with the particle. |
| 어처구니없다 | Absurd | Similar word, a little stronger. |
Questions learners ask
What does eoieopseo mean?
It means "This is ridiculous" or "Unbelievable". People say it about something absurd or unfair.
Is eoieopseo rude?
It is not a swear word, but it is casual and shows annoyance. Saying it to an elder about something they did would sound disrespectful.
What is the polite form of eoieopseo?
어이없어요. Even so, it is a complaint, so use it carefully.