What does 아야 mean?
아야 (aya) means: ouch, boo-boo.
While adults use '아야' as a sudden exclamation of pain (like 'ouch!'), in child-directed speech it is used as a noun meaning 'a hurt' or 'a boo-boo'. Parents will ask where a child has an '아야' to comfort them.
How it's actually used
- 머리 아야 했어? 엄마가 호 해줄게.
Did your head get a boo-boo? Mommy will blow on it.