Konglish
/ˈkɒŋɡlɪʃ/
UncommonKorean-influenced English words or phrases that don't mean what an English speaker would expect.
Has two uses. One is linguistic: Korean-influenced English that has shifted meaning (like 'hand phone' for mobile phone). The other is casual: mixing Korean and English in speech or text. The second use is more common online.
Real-world examples3 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 'hand phone' is classic konglish. makes total sense if you think about it. | A borrowed English word used with a meaning that differs from standard English usage. | reddit, 2023 |
| 02 | kpop fan spaces are full of konglish and korean phrases mixed in. you learn both at once. | Online fandom spaces create environments where Konglish naturally appears. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | my mom told me to get a 'sharp' and i had no idea she meant a mechanical pencil. konglish moment. | A word borrowed from English means something different in Korean usage. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Describing English words that have different meanings when used in Korean contexts.
- Describing the natural mixing of Korean and English in speech or text.
- Explaining why a Korean speaker used an English word in an unexpected way.
Do not use it when
- You mean standard Korean.
- You mean any use of English by a Korean speaker.
Konglish vs Spanglish
Konglish
Konglish often refers to English loanwords used with shifted meanings in Korean.
VS
spanglish
Spanglish is a blend where both languages are used fluidly in the same sentence.
Origin and context
Emerged from English's influence on Korean during and after the Korean War, accelerating with economic globalization and media.
- First seen
- mid-1900s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/konglishUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0