Nuance Dictionary / People & Relationships
썸남 sseom-nam
A male object of mutual, unspoken romantic interest who hasn't been officially locked down as a boyfriend yet.
What does 썸남 mean?
썸남 (sseom-nam) means: A male object of mutual, unspoken romantic interest who hasn't been officially locked down as a boyfriend yet.
Speakers use this term in casual conversations among friends to refer to a man who is more than just a regular acquaintance or friend, but not yet a boyfriend. It appears frequently in discussions about dating lives, relationship statuses, and romantic prospects. The word combines the noun 'some' (indicating something unspecified or a 'some-relationship') with 'nam' (man).
When used among friends, this term often carries a playful or slightly anxious tone as speakers try to define the exact boundaries of a budding romance.
When used among friends, this term often carries a playful or slightly anxious tone as speakers try to define the exact boundaries of a budding romance.
How it's actually used
- 요즘 연락 자주 하는 썸남 있어?
yo-jeum yeon-lak ja-ju ha-neun sseom-nam isseo?
Is there a guy you've been texting a lot lately?
💡 Asking a friend about current romantic prospects - 걔는 그냥 썸남이지, 남친은 아니야.
gyae-neun geu-nyang sseom-nam-iji, nam-chin-eun an-iya.
He's just a guy I'm seeing, not a boyfriend yet.
💡 Clarifying a relationship status to a friend - 썸남한테 고백받았어!
sseom-nam-hante go-baek-bad-asseo!
The guy I've been seeing confessed his feelings to me!
💡 Sharing exciting news about a romantic development