An experience in class after teaching for a few days…
Class: Teacher! John cunning!
Me: I guess. He does seem pretty slick that, John.
Class: No, teacher! Cunning!
Me: Okay, but he’s not master spy or anything.
Then I got blank looks and more screams of Cunning!
So that was introduction to the wonderful world of Konglish. Med Magazine defines Konglish as:
Konglish can be broken down into four types: (1) words whose meanings have been altered; (2) words that have been fabricated to mean something entirely different from the borrowed word or phrase; (3) words in which the pronunciation has changed; (4) and words or phrases which have been abbreviated. Konglish also incorporates ‘pseudo loan-words’: English terms that are used by Koreans but only after making a direct translation from Korean to English. One of the more obvious examples is the word Konglish, which is formed by taking the initial syllable of Korean (Ko), removing the ‘E’ of English and then combining the remaining parts of the two words.
So here are some of the more interesting Konglish I have heard since being in Korea.
Hand Phone = Cell Phone
Refrigelater = Refrigerator
Salaryman = Businessman
Cunning = Cheating One
Manicure = Nail Polish
Service = Gratuity
Dutch Pay = Paying Dutch
Officetel = Office & Hotel
Just Do Me = Nike‘s Just Do It
Eye Shopping = Window Shopping
Orangee = Orange
Strangee = Strange
That’s just the tip of the iceberg! Do you have any funny Konglish words or sayings to add to the list?
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This post was written by
I’m a blogger, writer, and teacher. I’ve been working in South Korea’s ESL field for the last three years. My one year contract has unexpectedly turned into a journey that I’m still on and loving.
14 comments
Jennie says:
Jul 12, 2010
I love samesame!
Student pointing out we were wearing the same Korea fighting t-shirts:
"Look teacher! We same same!"
Pam says:
Apr 16, 2010
walker=combat boots
.-= Pam´s last blog ..Pamenology =-.
Phoenixstorm says:
Apr 17, 2010
awesome, but I don't get the walker = combat boots connection…am I missing something?
Pam says:
Apr 17, 2010
Neither do I! Believe me, I'm just as dumbfounded as you are.
Pam says:
Apr 16, 2010
I am an online English teacher to Korean students and just yesterday, my student and I were laughing at the confusion Konglish words bring. Up until yesterday, I thought that being a salary man meant you worked in the accounting division of the company. Another Konglish word: walker=combat boots.
Brandon Heikoop says:
Nov 24, 2009
While gratuity is something that is "free" many understand the word as a "tip", and it is rare to receive a "tip" from a server.I would term "service" as "no charge" or "on the house" rather then "gratuity".
Anonymous says:
Jul 19, 2009
"Kill Heels": women's shoes where the heel is more than 10 cm high…
Kalynn says:
Sep 6, 2008
My Taekwondo Master (female) often said as a way to encourage us to work harder, "Do better than what you did it!"
Kristen says:
Jul 11, 2008
Yep, I'm from South La and I say refrigelater all the time 'cause it's fun.
Anonymous says:
May 27, 2008
the 'ee' and 'uh' alternate based on the consonant sound and environment of the vowel.</></>My favorite is "Macguyver Knife" for 'swiss army knife'.</></>Check out 'Konglish Lexis' theres a huge resource ran out of there. Actually doing a term paper for my MA on the subject…</></>cheers
Phoenixstorm says:
Dec 10, 2007
Ooh, sweet, thanks for the quiz-uh link-uh.Did I flunk it already?
Amanda says:
Dec 9, 2007
Look-uh, don't mock-uh my Konglishee.</></>I haven't a clue, actually. But, I scored 10/10 on this Konglish quiz:</></> ;http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Humanities/Konglish-101-203597.html
Phoenixstorm says:
Dec 9, 2007
Now I understand the emphasizing of E on words, but how does Uh come about with the word nice? That's Strangeee
Amanda says:
Dec 9, 2007
I say nice-uh all the time.