Korean slang profile

알바

alba

A part-time job

An abbreviation of 아르바이트, meaning part-time work.

This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.

01Examples, with English translations

Example by Julimmal
방학 동안 카페 알바를 하기로 했어.
I've decided to work part-time at a cafe during the break.
Quoted from a source
“이런 아르바이트(알바) 자리, 주의하라.”[2]
“Be careful about these part-time jobs (알바).”
English translation by Julimmal.

July 2003Electronic Newspaper: “The ‘2003 Midsummer 알바 Job Fair’ will be held to provide information on part-time jobs in various industries to college students and teenagers on summer vacation.”[1]
July 2004“Be careful about these part-time jobs (알바).”[2]

Short for “아르바이트.” The 2004 source from Kyunghyang Shinmun explicitly gives this explanation. Who first used it and when have not been verified.

Evidence for the origin explanationHigh

The explanation is explicit in the sources, and at least two sources use the same meaning. When it was first used is unknown.

Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.

‘아르바이트 채용박람회’ 열린다 (전자신문)Published Jul 2, 2003Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
이런 알바 조심해라 (경향신문)Published Jul 26, 2004Original source checked Nov 5, 2026