Slangs in Korean LGBTQ+ Communities

Every queer community in the world has its own slang, as communities in Korea do, too. Various slangs come up and disappear along with generations and identities. This article introduces the slangs generally used in the LGBTQ+ communities in Korea.

• English Translation: 지니

• Translation review: Juyeon

• Writer of the original text: Miguel

• Review and amendments to the original text: 희중

• Web & SNS Posting: 에스텔

• News Card Design: 가리

Image created with Copilot

이쪽

• Romanization: ijjok

• Literal meaning: this side

“Ijjok” is a euphemistic expression frequently used by queer individuals to refer to themselves. Of course, direct words such as “gay,” “lesbian,” “transgender,” and “bisexual” are also used, but these types of euphemisms are often preferred in public settings. Depending on the context, it can broadly refer to LGBTQ+ or queer individuals as a whole, but it is also commonly used in a more specific sense to indicate certain groups within the community.

• “There’s this newbie who seems to be ijjok, but I’m not sure.”

• “You are not ijjok, are you?”

일반

• Romanization: ilban

• Literal meaning: general, ordinary

‘Ilban’ refers to non-queer individuals. Since the first syllable “il” of the Korean word ‘Ilban’(general, ordinary) has the same meaning as the number 1, ‘iban’ has been made up to refer to sexual minorities (usually homosexuals) by replacing ‘il(1)’ with “i(2).” “Iban” seems to be changed into other expressions, while ‘ilban’ is still frequently used.

• “Don’t hold your breath, they are ilban.”

일스, 일틱

• Romanization: ilseu, iltik

Deriving from the slang “ilban” mentioned earlier, these indicate non-queer attitudes or appearances that fit social stereotypes. These words don’t mean to call all non-queer individuals, but to describe queer individuals whose attitudes or appearances match a typical femininity or masculinity that is socially accepted. “Ilseu” is made by combining the Korean word “ilban” and the English word “style,” and “iltik” is a combination of “ilban” and the English suffix “-tic.” Lesbian communities use “ilseu” as a noun, while gay communities use “iltik” as an adjective.

• “I wanna hang out with a pretty ilseu unnie.”

• “I think I am a bit iltik, ain’t I?”

끼

• Romanization: kki

• Literal meaning: artistic and physical talents

“Kki” has various meanings, usually referring to artistic and physical talents. It also represents “An attitude or a tendency to carelessly have a relationship with individuals from the opposite sex,” according to the Standard Korean Language Dictionary.

LGBTQ communities, especially gay communities use it as slang to indicate their movement or the way they speak, which are socially considered feminine. With the suffix “suni” which represents women who are good at something or have interests in certain topics, the word “kkisuni” refers to gay people who have these “kki.”

• “I don’t have kki. I’m more of an iltik.

• “Even if they pretend to be close, they look down once they meet each other in real life, saying like “He is a kkisuni.”

기갈

• Romanization: gigal

• Literal meaning: thirst and hunger

“Gigal” is a word that originally denoted “thirst and hunger,” which also derived another meaning “having a desire or greed.” It’s commonly used as a verb in gay communities to refer to wild and aggressive personalities or behaviors. Appealing to their gayness and kki in a rude way can be “gigaling.”

헤남, 헤녀

• Romanization: henam, henyeo

By utilizing the first syllable of “heterosexual,” it has added “nam” and “nyeo” which means men and women each. You may intuitively notice that these words refer to heterosexual men and women, which are also used in a narrower way to mention cisgender heterosexual men and women.

걸커

• Romanization: geolkeo

This comes from the first syllable of the two words meaning “walking coming-out.” It is to indicate queer individuals who naturally exude a queer vibe simply through their walking style or demeanor,  even if they did nothing.

• “How did I know you are gay? You are just a geolkeo.”

• Geolkeos like you just walking down the street? Then it’s the LGBTQ+ visualizing movement.

식, 노식

• Romanization: sik, nosik

Sik means the ideal type or the style you like. It usually refers to the preference for appearance, but it may differ depending on the context, including relationships or sex. The Korean word “sikseong” (taste) seems to be the origin of this slang term “sik,” and the opposite expression is “nosik,” combining the English word “no.”

• “That person is “nosik” for me. I’m not into them.

• “How’s your sik?”

텀

• Romanization: teom

You may be familiar with the words “top” and “bottom,” commonly used in Western society. In Korea, “teom” short for “bottom” is a more frequently used expression.

Under the title “Ijjok MBTI,” 4 pairs of words are listed as MBTI characteristics. From the top to the bottom, “Gib(G)-Tek(T),” “Ginmeo(L)-Jjalmeo(S),” “Open(O)-”Closet(C),” “Off on days(D)- Off on weekends(W).” A caricature of a person with a bob smiling at the bottom. (Source: SIS App)

깁, 텍, 온깁, 온텍

• Romanization: gib, tek, ongib, ontek

“Gib” and “Tek” are for sex between women-identifying people, as if “top” and “teom” are for sex between men-identifying people. Each originates from the English words “give” and “take.” Combining the prefix “on” from “only,” “ongib” and “ontek” refers to individuals who “only give” and “only take,” respectively.

긴머부, 짧머부

• Romanization: ginmeobu, jjalmeobu

You may be familiar with the words “femme” and “butch.” There are some expressions to indicate butches’ appearance, such as “ginmeobu” and “jjalmeobu” referring to “long-haired butches” and “short-haired butches,” respectively, combining with the first syllable of each word. “Danmeobu” is also used with the same meaning as “jjalmeobu,” short for “bobbed hair butches.”

Do you know any other expressions you’d like to share? We would like to introduce more languages from Korean sexual minorities and queer communities next time. Please leave a comment below!

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• English Translation: 지니

• Translation review: Juyeon

• Writer of the original text: Miguel

• Review and amendments to the original text: 희중

• Web & SNS Posting: 에스텔

• News Card Design: 가리

References (available in Korean)

• 한국성적소수자문화인권센터: https://kscrc.org/xe/index.php?mid=board_yXmx36&page=2 

• 행성인: https://lgbtpride.tistory.com/1068

• 행성인2: https://lgbtpride.tistory.com/1429 

• 탑엘 관련 블로그 글 https://blog.naver.com/hotleve/220719741380