애교 (aegyo) is a cute way of speaking/acting to create closeness, especially with partners, close friends, or on stage.
Where it shows up
Relationships, livestreams, some service jobs, friend humor. Rarely in serious corporate meetings.
What it isn’t
It’s not required to “succeed in Korea.” Many Koreans never do it. Respect and clarity beat forced aegyo.
If you just want to understand
Listen for rising melody, stretched endings, words like 오빠 (depending on relationship). Observe > imitate.
Key vocabulary
| Word | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 애교 | aegyo | Aegyo / cute charm |
| 귀엽다 | gwiyeopda | To be cute |
| 살랑살랑 | sallangsallang | Flirty-soft vibe |
Tip
If asked to “do aegyo” and you’re uncomfortable: 저 그런 거 잘 못해요 + a smile is enough.
Go further
Find these words in the Seonsaengnim dictionary and practice them in lessons / flashcards with native audio.