Nuance Dictionary / Emotions & Feelings
어머나 Eomeona
An involuntary, high-pitched gasp used when encountering sudden unexpected news or minor shocks in daily life.
What does 어머나 mean?
어머나 (Eomeona) means: An involuntary, high-pitched gasp used when encountering sudden unexpected news or minor shocks in daily life.
Speakers produce this high-pitched sound involuntarily upon encountering sudden, unexpected situations or minor shocks in daily life. It appears at the very beginning of an utterance, frequently followed by rhetorical questions or statements of realization such as 벌써 시간이 그렇게 됐어요?, 그 시험이 오늘이었어?, or 빨래를 널어 놨는데 큰일이에요. It occurs across casual and polite speech levels when reacting to realizations about time, unexpected events, or sudden practical problems.
Because of its high pitch and sudden delivery, this expression can sound intensely theatrical or dramatic even when the speaker's surprise is entirely genuine.
Because of its high pitch and sudden delivery, this expression can sound intensely theatrical or dramatic even when the speaker's surprise is entirely genuine.
Other sides of 어머나
◆ Playful Exaggeration — Speakers use this exclamation during playful gossip or light banter among friends to playfully exaggerate a reaction to unexpected news. It appears in casual exchanges between peers discussing daily surprises or trivial revelations. It frequently pairs with disbelief-focused expressions and dramatic exclamations like 세상에.
Depending on tone and context, this can sound like theatrical teasing or gentle mockery, allowing speakers to playfully dramatize minor mishaps or gossip.
Depending on tone and context, this can sound like theatrical teasing or gentle mockery, allowing speakers to playfully dramatize minor mishaps or gossip.
How it's actually used
- 어머나! 벌써 시간이 그렇게 됐어요?
eomona! beolsseo sigani geureoke dwaesseoyo?
Oh my goodness! Is it already that time?
💡 A speaker reacting with surprise to the current time. - 어머나! 그 시험이 오늘이었어?
eomona! geu siheomi oneurieosseo?
Oh my! Was that exam today?
💡 A speaker reacting to sudden unexpected news about a schedule. - 어머나, 빨래를 널어 놨는데 큰일이에요!
eomona, ppallaereul neoreo nwanneundekeunurieyo!
Oh my goodness, I hung the laundry out and now we're in trouble!
💡 A speaker reacting to a sudden realization about a household issue.
Related words in Emotions & Feelings
엄살 Eomsal객기 Gaekgi간이 콩알만 해지다 Gan-i kong-alman haejida간이 크다 Gani keuda갑갑하다 gap-gap-ha-da