Internet and text messaging

terms used on the internet, emoticons, internet slang etc

Sounds

• ㅋ- Noise used for laughter, the more ㅋ's the more the person is laughing.
• ㅋㄷ - 키득키득, another way to write the sound of laughter
• ㅎ- Noise used for laughter, the more ㅎ's the more the person is laughing.

Emoticons

• ㅜㅜ /ㅠㅠ - Tears
• ^^ - Happy eyes
• .\/. - Angry eyes
• OTL - Shape of a person crying on the floor
• *_____* - Smiling face
• ▶◀ - Used for when someone died (what is it supposed to be?)
• -ㅅ-a - Scratching one's head
• 'ㅅ'b - Thumbs up
• 'ㅅ'ㅗ - The finger
• @.@ - Confusion
• [any emoticon] + ;; - embarrassment (i.e., ^^;;)
• ㅡ_ㅡ - ?

Shortened words

Shortened form	Real word	Comment
ㅇㅇ	응	Positive response, low form of 네 (yes).
ㅇㅋ	Ok
~욜	~요일	Abbreviation used in combination when expressing a particular day. 일욜 → 일요일 (Sunday) 수욜 → 수요일 (Wednesday)
ㄳ / ㄱㅅ	감사합니다	Thank you
ㄱㅊ	괜찮아요	It's ok
ㅊㅎ	축하해요	Congratulations
ㅎㅇ	하이	Hi
ㅂㅇ	바이	Bye
방가	방가워요	Nice to meet you
ㅅㅂ	씨발	A strong korean curse word
낼	내일	Tomorrow
올만이네	오랜만이네	Long time no see.
짱나	짜증 나	Expression you use when something or someone is annoying
글쿠나 / 글구나	그렇구나	(Ah) I see!
걍	그냥	Just
어케	어떻게	How
대체	도대체	~the hell (i.e. who the hell ...)

Text Message Style

Since many young people are so used to typing text messages in a different way, typing proper Korean can sometimes make the person sound serious or angry. Many young people use a style that is considered more cute. However these should not be used in formal conversation, people who you have a formal relationship with and elders (cases vary).

Style/form	Comment
A/V + ㅁ/음 (instead of A/V + (으)면)	This is not to be confused with the real grammar pattern A/V + (으)ㅁ which turns a adjective or verb into a noun. 일찍 끝남 전화할게 → 일찍 끝나면 전화할게 (If I finish early, I'll call you) 시간 있음 만나자 → 시간 있으면 만나자 (If you have time, let's meet)
Simple spelling	Examples: 맞아 → 마자
응 substitutions	Using 엉, 웅, 앙, 옹, 읭, 잉 instead of 응 (low form of 'yes'). These forms are supposed to be more 'cute.'
Adding ㅇ as the 받침 to words.	Young people often add ㅇ as the 받침 to words at the end of sentences without a 받침. Examples: 오빠! → 오빵! 일찍 만나자 → 일찍 만나장
Substitutes for ~요	~여, ~염, ~엽, ~욘, ~용 , ~효 = Substitutes for ~요 at the end of sentences. Examples: 잘 자요 → 잘 자여
~셈	Substitute for ~십시오 & ~세요. Examples:
삼, ~3	Substitute for ~습니다 and 세요. 삼 is the pronunciation for the Sino Korean number three, so 3 can be used as well. Examples: 소주 주세요 → 소주 주삼
Using ㅅ instead of ㅆ (as 받침)	Examples: 했어 → 햇어 먹었어 → 먹엇어
Spelled as pronounced	Some words are spelled the way they are commonly pronounced. Examples: 뭐 → 머 / 모 뭐 해? → 머 해? 뭐 해? → 모 해? 줘 → 조 물 좀 줘 → 물 좀 조 봐 → 바 내일 봐 → 내일 바 되 / 돼 → 대 안 돼 → 안 대
쥐 instead of 지	Sometimes 쥐 is used instead of 지 to sound more cute. Examples: 인사해야지 → 인사해야쥐
음 words	Words like 다음, 마음 become just 담 and 맘.

See also

• How to text message in Korean text message simulator at the bottom also)