뒷담화

Korean

Etymology

Purifying neologism by reanalysis of 뒷다마 (dwitdama) as a compound of 뒤 (dwi, “back”) +‎ ㅅ (-s-, genitive -s-) +‎ 담화(談話) (damhwa, “discourse”).

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Who was it that coined this word?”)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [tɥit̚t͈a̠mβwa̠] ~ [tyt̚t͈a̠mβwa̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [뒫땀화]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	dwitdamhwa
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	dwisdamhwa
McCune–Reischauer?	twittamhwa
Yale Romanization?	twistamhwa

Noun

뒷담화 • (dwitdamhwa)

1. (slang) the act of talking negatively behind someone's back

   Synonyms: 뒷담 (dwitdam), 뒷다마 (dwitdama)

   뒷담화를 까다

   dwitdamhwa-reul kkada

   to talk negatively behind [someone's] back

   뒷담화는 나쁜 거예요.

   Dwitdamhwa-neun nappeun geo-ye-yo.

   It's not good to talk behind [others'] backs.

Usage notes

This neologism was very successful in replacing the older 뒷다마 (dwitdama); as such, it is increasingly perceived as a standard, non-slang word by people unaware of its etymology. Its usage reflects this shift in perception.

Compare further clipped 뒷담 (dwitdam), which is more often recognized as slang.