Filler words are small words or sounds that are used for a variety of purposes in spoken language. Common uses include indicating a pause in speech, keeping the speaker’s thoughts structured, and adding emphasis to something being said. While these words have no real meaning of their own, they’re an important part of any language—including Korean!
Learning the most common Korean filler words will help you sound more like a native speaker and give you the ability to end a conversation without an awkward silence.
In this article, you’ll learn 10 essential Korean filler words and their variations as well as examples of how to use each one.
Table of Contents
- 음 (eum) / 어 (eo)
- 있잖아 (itjana)
- 세상에 (sesange)
- 말하자면 (malhajamyeon)
- 아무튼 (amuteun)
- 우와 (uwa)
- 에이 (ei)
- 뭐? (Mwo?) / 뭐라고? (Mworago?) / 네? (Ne?)
- 진짜 (jinjja) / 정말 (jeongmal)
- 아이고! (Aigo!) / 어머나! (Eomeona!) / 어머! (Eomeo!) / 어우씨 (Eoussi)
- Pros and Cons of Using Korean Filler Words
- How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Your Korean Studies
1. 음 (eum) / 어 (eo)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 음… | eum… | “um…” |
This filler sound is one of the most common Korean words you’ll hear when talking with locals, particularly in informal settings. Just like its English equivalent, you can use it to mark a pause while you think of what to say next. | ||
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| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 어… | eo… | “uh…” |
This is another common filler sound, used in both informal and formal settings. This Korean filler word has the exact same meaning as the previous one and is used in the same way. | ||
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2. 있잖아 (itjana)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 있잖아 | itjana | “you know what” |
You can use 있잖아 (itjana) when you want to attract someone’s attention and start a conversation, especially if you want to talk with them about something personal or discuss something in secret. | ||
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#2-1 [Alternative] – 참 (cham)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 참! | Cham! | “Oh, I just remembered!” |
This is another way to gain someone’s attention. You can use this filler word anytime you remember something important and want to say something about it. | ||
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3. 세상에 (sesange)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 세상에 | sesange | “oh my god” |
This one is most often used by women, but it’s becoming less popular over time. Another way women can say this is: 어머 (eomeo). | ||
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#3-1 [Alternative] – 오마이갓 (ohmaigat)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 오마이갓 | omaigat | “oh my god” |
This is the English phrase “oh my god” pronounced in Korean. If someone uses a strong Korean accent when saying this phrase, they’re emphasizing the situation in a humorous way. | ||
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4. 말하자면 (malhajamyeon)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 말하자면 | malhajamyeon | “in short” |
You can use 말하자면 (malhajamyeon) to quickly summarize what you want to say, especially when you’re running out of time. | ||
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5. 아무튼 (amuteun)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 아무튼 | amuteun | “anyway” |
아무튼 (amuteun) is one of the most frequently used filler words in Korean, and it’s used to change the topic just like the word “anyway” does in English. | ||
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#5-1 [Alternative] – 어쨌든 (eojjetdeun)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 어쨌든 | eojjaetdeun | “anyway” |
어쨌든 (eojjaetdeun) has the same meaning as 아무튼 (amuteun). | ||
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6. 우와 (uwa)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 우와! | Uwa! | “Wow!” |
우와 (uwa) means “wow” in English and is used exactly the same way. | ||
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7. 에이 (ei)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 에이 | Ei | “come on” |
에이 (ei) is equivalent to the English filler “come on,” and it’s used the same way. | ||
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8. 뭐? (Mwo?) / 뭐라고? (Mworago?) / 네? (Ne?)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 뭐? | Mwo? | “What? What did you say?” |
| 뭐라고? | Mworago? | “What? What did you say?” |
| 네? | Ne? | “Pardon? What did you say?” |
These common Korean fillers are used to ask someone to repeat what they said. 네? (Ne?) is the most common, while 뭐라고? (Mweorago?) can convey different meanings depending on how you say it. | ||
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9. 진짜 (jinjja) / 정말 (jeongmal)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 진짜 | jinjja | “really” |
| 정말 | jeongmal | “really” |
This filler word means “really,” and it’s often used to tell someone about something you strongly believe in. | ||
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10. 아이고! (Aigo!) / 어머나! (Eomeona!) / 어머! (Eomeo!) / 어우씨 (Eoussi)
| Korean | Romanization | English Meaning |
| 아이고! | Aigo! | “Oops!” |
| 어머나! | Eomeona! | “Oops!” |
| 어머! | Eomeo! | “Oops!” |
| 어우씨 | Eoussi | “Ooh” |
These filler words are used in many situations. You can use one of these words when you’ve been startled or when you’re beginning to remember something, for example. 어머! (Eomeo!) and 어머나! (Eomeona!) are commonly used by women, and 아이고! (Aigo!) is commonly used by elders. 어우씨 (Eoussi) is used by both women and men, but do be careful about saying this as it will make you sound aggressive and unfriendly. | ||
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11. Pros and Cons of Using Korean Filler Words
Filler words exist in every spoken language, making them a key component of communication. As a student of the language, you’ll greatly benefit from learning Korean filler words because doing so will help you sound more like a native speaker in everyday conversations.
However, you should use them with caution. If you use filler words too often, you’ll sound less confident and less professional. It’s strongly recommended by Korean language professionals to avoid using filler words as much as possible—especially words like “oh” and “err.”
The best thing would be to avoid saying them at all. It’s better to be silent than to overuse filler words!
12. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Your Korean Studies
In summary, you’ve learned 10 essential Korean filler words that will help you sound more like a native speaker. You’ve also learned some of the pros and cons of using them in your conversations with locals.
If you want to further advance your Korean skills, make sure to create your free lifetime account on KoreanClass101.com! We offer a number of entertaining and practical learning resources, including vocabulary lists and YouTube videos.
We look forward to helping you reach your language learning goals!
