Dictionary — Entry No. 0319
어머나
omona · interjection
어머나
omona
[oh-MOH-nah]
interjectionbeginner
Meaning
A feminine exclamation of surprise or shock, equivalent to ‘Oh my!’ or ‘Oh goodness!’ in English. It expresses a range of emotions from mild astonishment to dramatic disbelief and is considered a distinctly warm, traditional Korean expression. Though historically associated with older women, younger Koreans and idols have brought it into modern pop culture.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Omona is a staple of K-Drama comedic and dramatic moments — characters cry it out when uncovering secrets or witnessing something unexpected. TWICE members have used it playfully on variety shows like Weekly Idol, and it appears memorably in Reply 1988 during neighborhood gossip scenes. Its exaggerated, warm sound makes it a fan favorite for learning Korean expressiveness.
Example Sentences
어머나! 오빠가 여기 왜 있어?
Omona! Oppaga yeogi wae isseo?
Oh my! Why is oppa here? (said with shock and delight)
어머나, 이게 얼마야?
Omona, ige eolmaya?
Oh goodness, how much is this? (expressing sticker shock)
어머나, 너 오늘 너무 예쁘다!
Omona, neo oneul neomu yeppeuda!
Oh wow, you look so pretty today! (a warm, genuine compliment)
⚠️ Don’t use omona when…
Don’t confuse omona with eomma (엄마, meaning ‘mom’) — they sound similar but mean very different things. Using omona in formal or professional settings sounds overly dramatic; it belongs in casual, expressive moments only.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Reply 1988 — neighborhood women exclaim omona repeatedly while gossiping, perfectly capturing its warm, communal expressiveness.
- K-Pop: TWICE — CHEER UP (members exclaim omona in behind-the-scenes content reacting to surprise fan gifts, a recurring endearing moment)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.