Korean Slang — 깜놀 (kkam-nol): Meaning, Examples & Practice
- Lee Serene
- 8월 7일
- 2분 분량
🔤 Meaning
깜놀 is a slang shortening of 깜짝 놀라다, meaning "to be startled" or "to be suddenly surprised."Everyday speakers — especially younger Koreans — often use it when reacting to something unexpected.
🗣️ Example Sentence
“갑자기 전화 와서 깜놀했어.”
(I was startled when I suddenly got a call.)
“그 뉴스 보고 진짜 깜놀했잖아.”
(That news totally shocked me.)
“사진이 너무 달라서 깜놀!”
(The photo looked so different—I was surprised!)
“뒤에서 누가 튀어나와서 깜놀했어.”
(Someone popped out from behind and I was startled.)
“시험 문제 너무 어려워서 깜놀했다니까.”
(The test questions were so hard—I was totally shocked.)
💬 Mini Dialogue
A:“야, 왜 그렇게 놀랐어?”
(Why do you look so surprised?)
B:“아니, 뒤에서 갑자기 누가 와서 깜놀했어.”
(Someone came out of nowhere from behind and startled me.)
🎤 Free Talking Questions
최근에 깜놀했던 순간이 있었나요?
(Have you had a moment recently that really startled you?)
영화 보다가 깜놀한 적 있어요?
(Have you ever been startled while watching a movie?)
친구가 보낸 메시지나 사진에 깜놀한 적 있나요?
(Have you ever been surprised by a message or photo from a friend?)
당신은 쉽게 깜놀하는 편인가요?
(Do you get startled easily?)
여러분 나라에도 “깜놀”처럼 놀라는 표현이 있나요?
(Does your language have a similar expression to “startled” like 깜놀?)
🎧 Want to Practice More Naturally?
This expression is part of my e-book:
“40 Essential Korean Slang for Everyday Life”
— your shortcut to sounding natural and confident in Korean conversations!
📲 What’s inside the e-book?
✅ 40 must-know Korean slang expressions for dating
✅ Easy explanations & real-life examples
✅ Short dialogues for natural conversations
✅ Free audio files with native-like pronunciation — just scan the QR codes inside!
🛒 Where to get it?
👉 Click to buy the e-book (PDF or Kindle)
👩🏻🏫 Want to practice with me directly?
If you'd like to practice these expressions in real conversations,
Book a 1:1 online lesson with me!
Together, we can:
✔ Practice Korean slang naturally
✔ Improve your speaking confidence
✔ Get personalized feedback
💡 Korean isn’t just grammar — it’s real-life expressions!
Let’s make your Korean more fun, natural, and confident! 😊
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