What does 막내 (maknae) mean?
- 막내maknae
The youngest member
Fine in most situations
막내 (maknae) means "the youngest" in a family or group. K-pop fans use it for the youngest member of an idol group, and Koreans use it for the youngest child, the newest employee on a team, and so on.
Where it comes from
막내 is a native Korean word for the last-born child.
How to use 막내
You can say it about someone ("she's our 막내") or call the youngest person 막내야. It sounds affectionate, since the youngest is often the one everyone looks after.
At work, being the 막내 can also mean you get the small chores, like ordering lunch, so people sometimes say it with a sigh.
The pronunciation is closer to "mang-nae" because of how ㄱ and ㄴ blend, which is why some people write "mangnae."
Examples
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Saying where you rank in your family
Showing a photo of the youngest member
An older sibling calling the youngest
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 막내야 | Hey, youngest! (calling) | Calling form. |
| 막내딸 | youngest daughter | |
| 막내아들 | youngest son | |
| 황금막내 | golden maknae | Fan term for a youngest member who is good at everything. |
Questions learners ask
What does maknae mean in K-pop?
It is the youngest member of the group. Some groups also have a 막내 for each sub-unit or line.
Is maknae only for families?
No. It works for any group: a family, a team at work, a club, or an idol group.