어이

Korean

Korean phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness. For other Korean entries on this topic, see Greetings.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ʌ̹i]
• Phonetic hangul: [어이]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	eoi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	eoi
McCune–Reischauer?	ŏi
Yale Romanization?	ei

Etymology 1

Of native Korean origin.

Interjection

어이 • (eoi)

1. hey, yo (informal, mostly used between male close friends)

   어이, 너는 누구야?.

   Eoi, neoneun nuguya?.

   Yo, who are you?

   어이, 오늘은 어디 갈까?

   Eoi, oneureun eodi galkka?

   Yo, where should we go today?

Etymology 2

Of native Korean origin.

Noun

어이 • (eoi)

1. (archaic) a huge object

Usage notes

Not productive in its own meaning anymore. It is used with following 없다 (eopda, “be not”), constituting 어이없다 (eoieopda, “ridiculous”).

Synonyms

• 어처구니 (eocheoguni)

Etymology 3

In the hangul script, first attested in the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜 / 월인석보), 1459, as Middle Korean 어ᅀᅵ〮 (Yale: èzí), from earlier Old Korean 母史 (*Esi). Possibly related to an element found in two ancient place name glosses from the Samguk Sagi: Goguryeo 也次 (*yatsi/*yaci).

Noun

어이 • (eoi)

1. mother
2. parent

Synonyms

• 어머니 (eomeoni, “mother”)