What does 야 (ya) mean?
- 야ya
Hey!
Casual: friends and people younger than you
야 (ya) means "Hey!" in Korean. It is a casual way to get someone's attention or call out to them, and in K-dramas it is often shouted in anger or surprise.
Where it comes from
야 is an interjection. A related ending, 야 or 아, is also added to first names to call someone, as in 민수야 ("Minsu!").
How to use 야
Use 야 only with close friends, younger siblings and people younger than you. Saying 야 to an older person or a stranger is very rude and can start a fight.
It can be friendly, like "Hey, look at this", or angry, like "Hey! What are you doing?" The tone does all the work.
To call a name casually, add 야 after a name ending in a vowel (지수야) and 아 after a consonant (민준아). To get a stranger's attention politely, say 저기요 instead.
Examples
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Waking up your younger brother
Showing a friend a funny video
Calling a close friend to dinner
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 야! | Hey! | Shouted to get attention or show anger. |
| 이름 + 야/아 | Calling someone by name | Casual, for friends and younger people: 지수야, 민준아. |
| 저기요 | Excuse me | Polite way to get a stranger's attention. |
| 야 너 | Hey, you | Confrontational. |
Questions learners ask
Is saying ya rude in Korean?
It can be. 야 is fine with close friends and younger people, but it is very rude to say to elders, bosses or strangers.
Why do Koreans add ya to names?
Adding 야 or 아 to a first name is the casual way to call someone, like 지수야. It is used with friends and younger people.
How do I get a stranger's attention politely?
Say 저기요, which works like "Excuse me".