SOREUM (소름) Meaning — How Koreans Say "CHILLS" | SingSay Korean
How Koreans say
“That gave me
chills.”
A high note hits. A plot twist lands.
A story gets a little too creepy.
Korean uses one word for all of it.
What does ‘소름’ mean?
‘소름’ (Soreum) means “Goosebumps.”
Unlike most words on this album, it is a noun, not a verb.
Shouted on its own, it works like “Chills!” in English.
Put them together in the past tense and you get the full sentence:
‘소름 돋았어’ (Soreum Dodasseo), “I got goosebumps.”
up
‘소름’ works for good chills and bad chills.
An amazing high note? ‘소름!’
A creepy ghost story? Also ‘소름!’
Your face and your tone tell people which one you mean.
When Koreans say it
That is the song’s bridge, line for line.
Say and Kei trade the lines back and forth, like two friends at a concert.
From a word to a sentence
‘소름!’ alone is a quick reaction.
To say it as a sentence, add the verb and choose your politeness level.
Friends, Family
Coworkers, Older People
It Gives Me Chills
In writing you will also see ‘소름이 돋았어’, with the particle ‘이’.
In everyday speech Koreans usually drop it.
Saying it stronger
‘완전’ is the same “Totally” from ‘완전 귀여워’.
‘진짜’ is the “Really” you met in ‘진짜?’.
Good chills vs creepy chills
Same word, two very different moments.
Excited and loud means “Wow!” Quiet and slow means “That’s creepy.”
If it really scared you, ‘헐’ often comes right before it.
Lyrics
When it gives you chills, you say:
소름! 소름! 소름!
When it gives you chills, you say: soreum!BRIDGE
This whole song is way too good: 완전 소름!
Every time, every time:
소름 돋았어!!
This is the album’s only duet, and it sounds like a mini musical.
Big strings, big piano, big feelings. Fitting for a song about chills.
Words in this song
This is song 2 of Korean Reactions, Vol. 2.
Missed the first one? Start with ‘귀여워’.
This is song two of Korean Reactions, Vol. 2.
Want all six words in one place? See the album guide.
Want to keep ‘소름’ handy?
Save the word cards on Instagram @singsaykorean.
Watch the full song on YouTube @SingSayKorean
and sing it until it sticks.
Comments
Post a Comment