Baby in Korean 🇰🇷

새끼 info.

Tips to remember:
• Associate "새끼" (saekki) with the idea of a young animal or offspring—as many animals have specific words for their young. This can help distinguish it from the more common and polite term for a human baby.
• Break the word down into "새" and "끼." Although "새" means “bird” in Korean, think of the combined word as referring to the “offspring” of an animal to aid memorization.
• Remember that while it originally just means “baby” or “young one,” context matters greatly because it also appears in slang or as an insult.

Explanations:
• "새끼" (saekki) is used to denote the young of an animal, such as a piglet or a fox cub. When referring to human babies, Koreans usually use "아기" (agi) instead.
• In informal or slang contexts, attaching "새끼" after another noun (for example, "이 새끼") can turn the meaning into a crude or derogatory remark equivalent to calling someone a bastard or kid.
• The usage must be adjusted based on the context and relationship between speakers, as it can be very offensive if used inappropriately.

Other words that mean the same thing:
• 아기 (agi) – a common and polite word for “baby” (human infant).
• 유아 (yua) – often used to refer to infants or toddlers, typically in more formal or academic contexts.

Alternate meanings (including slang):
• As a derogatory suffix, "새끼" can intensify an insult when combined with another word (e.g., "개새끼" meaning “son of a bitch”).
• When used by itself in informal speech, especially among close acquaintances, it might refer to someone younger or in a rough, teasing manner—but its tone can still be quite harsh.

Examples of sentences:
1. “강아지는 새끼이다.”
Romanization: “Gang-ajineun saekkiida.”
Translation: “The puppy is a baby.”
2. “돼지 새끼는 빠르게 자란다.”
Romanization: “Dwaeji saekki-neun bbaleuge jaranda.”
Translation: “Piglets grow quickly.”
3. “그 새끼가 내 신발을 물어뜯었어.”
Romanization: “Geu saekki-ga nae sinbareul mureotteosseoyo.”
Translation: “That little brat (or bastard) chewed on my shoes.”

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