What does 썸 (sseom) mean?
- 썸sseom
The flirting stage before dating
Casual: friends and people younger than you
썸 (sseom) means the flirty stage when two people clearly like each other but are not officially dating yet. It is slang, mostly used by younger people. Saying two people are "in a sseom" is like saying "there's something going on between them."
Where it comes from
It comes from the English word "something," shortened to its first sound.
How to use 썸
The usual verb is 타다 (to ride): 썸 타다 means "to be in that flirting stage." You will hear questions like 너희 썸 타? (Are you two a thing?).
Related words are 썸남 (a guy you have a sseom with) and 썸녀 (a girl you have a sseom with).
It is casual slang, fine with friends but not something to use in formal settings.
Examples
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Explaining to a friend you're not dating yet
Asking two friends who seem close
Chatting with a coworker about dating
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 썸 타다 | to be in the flirting stage | The most common verb with 썸. |
| 썸 타는 중 | currently in a sseom | Common in texts and posts. |
| 썸남 | guy you're flirting with | 썸 + 남 (man). |
| 썸녀 | girl you're flirting with | 썸 + 녀 (woman). |
Questions learners ask
Does sseom mean dating?
No. 썸 is the stage before dating, when the feelings are there but nobody has made it official.
What does sseom tada mean?
썸 타다 means "to be in a sseom," that is, to be flirting with someone and heading toward dating.