Konglish (Korean: 콩글리시) is the use of English words (or words derived from English words) in a Korean context. The words, having initially been taken from English language, are either actual English words in Korean contextor are made from a combination of Korean and English words. It is considered a sublanguage. Common sentence structure or vocabulary mistakes made by Koreans has also been referred to as Konglish. Words and phrases borrowed from English or other languages may be shortened if Koreans using them feel they are too long.
List of Konglish Words Without English Equivalents
A typical example of misuse of English, now regarded commonly as “konglish”.
The following is a list of words used in South Korea that either: 1) have their origins in English but lack precise English equivalents largely due to the fact that they describe (new) Korean social phenomena 2) have their origins in English but have taken on a new definition, one unfamiliar to most native English speakers 3) use English words in new combinations.
· o-pi-seu-tel (오피스텔 “Office-tel”) – a portmanteau of “office” and “hotel”. An officetel is usually a small, modern room that has basic facilities including a kitchenette and a bathroom with a shower. While many officetel are used as functional offices, they are increasingly being designed with permanent habitation in mind and often resemble miniature condominium apartments. In some cases, officetel avoid higher taxes than those levied on actual apartments.
· seu-kin-seu-ku-beo (스킨스쿠버 “skin scuba”) – scuba-diving
· sya-peu (샤프 “sharp”) – a mechanical pencil
· won-rum (원룸 “One room”) – a bachelor-style studio apartment
· won-syat (원샷 “one shot”) – a form of toast, roughly equivalent to “bottom’s up”. It challenges the drinker to finish his drink in one gulp.[
· paiting or hwaiting (파이팅, 화이팅 “fighting”, cp. Japanese ファイト faito), a Korean cheer that can roughly be translated as “Victory!” but can also be used as a word of encouragement (a la “Courage!”).
· a-pa-teu (아파트 “apartment”; Japanese アパート apāto). This word is used to mean not only individual suites, but “apartment building” or “apartment complex”.
