How To Say “Cute” In Korean – Ways To Use This Compliment

Ever wondered how to say "cute" in Korean?

The Korean word for "cute" is used a lot! It makes it a very good word to add to your Korean study. You can use it to describe something that you find cute or adorable, such as a puppy or doll, or you can use the word to pay somebody a compliment.

In fact, many people in Korea want to be seen as "cute" and will behave in "cute" ways. This is known as 애교 (aegyo). People acting in this way will be pleased to hear you describe them as "cute," so make sure you learn this word so that you can make lots of friends in Korea.

As you would go around and explore Korea, you might come across things that you find to be cute or adorable. We'll be discussing the different ways of saying "cute" in the Korean language below. Let's begin!

Here's a free PDF guide that you can take with you on the go: 

Get How to Say "Cute" in Korean Free PDF

Contents

• 1 How to say "Cute" in Korean
  • 1.1 "Cute" in Korean (Formal)
  • 1.2 "Cute" in Korean (Standard)
  • 1.3 "Cute" in Korean (Informal)
  • 1.4 How to say "It is cute" in Korean
• 2 How to write "cute" in Korean
• 3 How to say "The Cute Puppy" in Korean
• 4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• 5 Wrap Up

How to say "Cute" in Korean

There are three common ways to say "cute" in Korean: 귀엽습니다 (gwiyeopseumnida), 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo), and 귀여워 (gwiyeowo). Which version you'll use will depend on the formality. 

However, if you want to say cute, as in "handsome," such as "check out that cute guy over there", then you should use the Korean word for handsome instead.

We’ve added in the romanization for all of the words below to help with pronunciation. However, we recommend that you try to move on to reading comfortably in Hangul (the Korean alphabet), as this will improve your pronunciation and your reading skills. It will also help you notice patterns in words, which will lead you to improve the rate at which you learn new Korean words and grammar points.

You can download a free guide to learn the Korean alphabet in about an hour here.

Here's a video talking about "cute" in Korean: 

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"Cute" in Korean (Formal)

The formal version of "cute" in Korean is 귀엽습니다 (gwiyeopseumnida). You might hear this word in a presentation about cuteness, in an interview, or in an announcement.

How to pronounce "cute" in Korean (Formal)

The Korean word 귀엽습니다 (gwiyeopseumnida) is pronounced slightly differently than how it is spelled. It can be pronounced as [귀엽씀니다]. 

Here's an audio of how to pronounce this word correctly. 

Listen here: 귀엽습니다 (gwiyeopseumnida)

Example:

이 가수가 귀엽습니다 (i gasuga gwiyeopseumnida) This singer is cute.

"Cute" in Korean (Standard)

The standard or polite version of "cute" in Korean is 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo). You can use this expression when talking to people who are older or not particularly close to you.

How to pronounce "cute" in Korean (Standard)

The standard version for the word "cute," 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo), is pronounced the same way as it is spelled. Here's how you can pronounce this word.

Listen here: 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo)

Example:

강아지가 너무 귀여워요 (gangajiga neomu gwiyeowoyo) The puppy is very cute.

"Cute" in Korean (Informal)

The informal way to say "cute" in Korean is 귀여워 (gwiyeowo). You can use this expression with people who are very close to you, such as with your girlfriend or date.

How to pronounce "cute" in Korean (Informal)

Lastly, 귀여워 (gwiyeowo), which is the informal version, is also pronounced the same way as it is spelled. You can practice how to pronounce this word through the audio below.

Listen here: 귀여워 (gwiyeowo)

Example:

너는 완전 귀여워! (neoneun wanjeon gwiyeowo) You are so cute! [literally – you are "totally" cute]

How to say "It is cute" in Korean

To say "to be cute," "it is cute," or "he/she is cute," in Korean, you can use the word 귀엽다 (gwiyeopda). If you are talking to yourself (such as when you are walking down the street and see a cute dog or cat), then you can use this version of the word. However, if talking to somebody else, you should remember to use the correct level of politeness.

How to write "cute" in Korean

To correctly spell the different Korean words for “cute,” you can start by familiarizing yourself with the Korean alphabet. Here's how you write "Cute" in Korean:

• "Cute" in Korean (formal) → 귀엽습니다 (gwiyeopseumnida)
• "Cute" in Korean (standard) → 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo)
• "Cute" in Korean (informal) → 귀여워 (gwiyeowo)

If you'd like to focus on improving your skills in writing in Korean, we have a dedicated article on Korean writing to help you with that. 

How to say "The Cute Puppy" in Korean

If you want to say "cute," as in “the cute puppy,” then you should use the word 귀여운 (gwiyeoun).

Example:

귀여운 강아지 (gwiyeoun gangaji) cute puppy

귀여운 아기 (gwiyeoun agi) cute baby

귀여운 여자 (gwiyeoun yeoja) cute woman

공원 안에 귀여운 강아지가 많아요 (gongwon ane gwiyeoun gangajiga manayo) There are lots of cute dogs at the park.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the common questions asked about how to say "cute" in Korean.

What is the Korean word for cute girl?

If you want to say “cute girl” in Korean, the most accurate term is 귀여운 여자아이 (gwiyeoun yeoja-ai), which means “cute little girl.” You can also say 귀여운 여자 (gwiyeoun yeoja), which means “cute woman,” but it can sometimes be used casually to mean “cute girl” depending on the context. For a more poetic feel, 귀여운 소녀 (gwiyeoun sonyeo) means “cute young girl.”

Is aegyo the same as cute in Korean?

Not exactly. 애교 (aegyo) refers to cute behavior or expressions, often done intentionally to appear adorable. It can include gestures, facial expressions, or tone of voice. The word 귀엽다 (gwiyeopda) describes something that is cute in general  (a person, animal, or object), while aegyo is more about acting cute.

What is gwiyeopda in Korean?

귀엽다 (gwiyeopda) is the dictionary form of the verb that means “to be cute.” It’s the base form behind conjugated versions like 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo) or 귀엽습니다 (gwiyeopseumnida).

You’ll also hear 귀엽다 used on its own in casual speech—especially when reacting to something cute, like saying “귀엽다!” out loud. It’s common in casual conversation and narration.

How do you compliment a Korean girl as cute?

To compliment a Korean girl as “cute,” you can say 너 진짜 귀엽다! (neo jinjja gwiyeopda!) in a casual setting.

If you want to be more polite, use 정말 귀여우세요 (jeongmal gwiyeouseyo). These both mean “You’re really cute,” but the polite version is better for someone older or not very close.

What’s the difference between 귀여워요 and 귀여워?

Both come from the same root (귀엽다 – gwiyeopda), but 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo) is the polite version, while 귀여워 (gwiyeowo) is informal.

Use 귀여워요 when talking to someone older or someone you don’t know well. Use 귀여워 with close friends or younger people.

How do you write “cute” in Korean text messages?

Most people use 귀여워 (gwiyeowo) for casual texting. You may also see stylized or exaggerated versions like 귀엽당 (gwiyeopdang) or 귀여웡 (gwiyeowong) — these are playful, “aegyo-style” variations that add a cute tone. They're often used between couples or friends.

What’s the adjective form of “cute” in Korean?

To use “cute” as a modifier before a noun, use 귀여운 (gwiyeoun). For example:

• 귀여운 강아지 (gwiyeoun gangaji) – cute puppy
• 귀여운 옷 (gwiyeoun ot) – cute clothes

This is different from saying something is cute, which uses 귀여워요 or 귀여워.

Is it rude to say 귀엽다 to someone older?

It depends on how you say it. Using the unmodified 귀엽다 (gwiyeopda) directly could sound abrupt or too casual. If you want to compliment someone older, say 귀여우세요 (gwiyeouseyo) — this is the respectful form. You’re more likely to use it for describing someone’s behavior rather than appearance.

How do Koreans react when you call them cute?

Many Koreans enjoy being called cute, especially if they’re acting with aegyo (애교). It’s a positive and friendly compliment. However, context matters — it can sound flirty or playful depending on tone, and it may not be appropriate in formal or professional settings.

Can 귀엽다 be used for objects or only people?

귀엽다 (gwiyeopda) can be used for both people and objects in Korean. You can use it for anything that looks small, charming, or endearing, like a puppy, a baby outfit, handwriting, or even a reaction. For example:

• 강아지 귀엽다! (gangaji gwiyeopda!) – The puppy is cute!
• 이 가방 너무 귀엽다! (i gabang neomu gwiyeopda!) – This bag is so cute!

Wrap Up

Learning vocabulary words is a great way to help you learn the basics of a language, but your language learning will only really take off once you start attempting to have conversations in Korean. Take a look at our free list of Korean phrases or our full Korean course for all the help you will need when studying Korean.

Need more reasons to learn Korean? Check out our top 10 reasons why you have to learn Korean now.

Now that you know how to say cute in Korean, you can start complimenting people on their "aegyo" or describing all of the cute things that you see in Korea!

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