Korean slang profile
ㅇㄱㄹㅇ
This is for real
A consonant abbreviation of 이거 레알, used to emphasize that something is true.
- Expanded form
- 이거 레알(real)This is for real
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- Oct 8, 2014
- Documented trend period
- Around 2014~
This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.
01Examples, with English translations
- Example by Julimmal
ㅇㄱㄹㅇ 맛집이다.
This place really does have great food.
- Quoted from a source
‘ㅇㄱㄹㅇ’(이거 레알 = 이거 정말이다, 공감을 나타날 때 쓰는 표현)[1]
ㅇㄱㄹㅇ: “this is for real,” an expression used to show agreement.
English translation by Julimmal.
02Documented history
- October 2014Financial News covered youth new words and cited ‘ㅇㄱㄹㅇ’ (레알 = This is true, an expression used to express empathy) as an example of a consonant expression.[1]
03Origin & word formation
The initial consonants of 이거 레알, roughly “this is for real.” A 2014 Financial News article explicitly gives that explanation. Who first used it and when have not been verified.
Evidence for the origin explanationHigh
The article explicitly explains the term. When it was first used is unknown.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- '버카충, 패완얼을 아십니까' 인터넷 신조어 범람 (파이낸셜뉴스)Published Oct 8, 2014Original source checked Nov 5, 2026