What does 매워 (maewo) mean?
- 매워maewo
It's spicy!
Casual: friends and people younger than you
매워 (maewo) means "It's spicy!" in casual Korean. You say it when food burns your mouth with chili heat.
Where it comes from
It is the casual present form of 맵다 ("to be spicy"). When an ending is added, the ㅂ in 맵다 changes to 우, so 맵 + 어 becomes 매워.
How to use 매워
매워 is casual, for friends, family and people younger than you. With strangers, staff or elders, say 매워요. Both can be a statement ("It's spicy") or a question ("Is it spicy?") depending on your tone.
Korean food can be very spicy, so it helps to know 안 매워요? ("Is it not spicy?") and 덜 맵게 해 주세요 ("Please make it less spicy").
A playful slang word for someone who cannot handle spicy food is 맵찔이.
Examples
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Eating tteokbokki with a friend
Asking a server before ordering
Reassuring a friend about a dish
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 매워요 | It's spicy (polite) | Use with people you are not close to. |
| 맵다 | To be spicy | Dictionary form. |
| 안 매워요? | Isn't it spicy? | Asking before you try something. |
| 덜 맵게 해 주세요 | Please make it less spicy | Useful when ordering. |
| 맵찔이 | Someone who can't handle spice | Playful slang. |
Questions learners ask
How do you say spicy in Korean?
The dictionary word is 맵다. In conversation, say 매워 casually or 매워요 politely.
How do I ask for less spicy food in Korean?
Say 덜 맵게 해 주세요 ("Please make it less spicy"). For no chili at all, try 안 맵게 해 주세요.
What is the difference between maewo and maewoyo?
매워 is casual and 매워요 is polite. The meaning is the same.