Korean slang profile
반모
banmo
Let's speak casually
An expression used to suggest that two people switch to informal Korean speech with each other.
- Expanded form
- 반말 모드Let's speak casually
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- 2013
- Documented trend period
- Not verified
This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.
01Examples, with English translations
- Example by Julimmal
우리 동갑이니까 반모하자.
We're the same age, so let's speak casually.
- Quoted from a source
반모(반말 모드)[1]
반모 (informal mode)
English translation by Julimmal.
02Documented history
- Spring 2013The National Institute of the Korean Language’s ‘New Korean Language Life’ Nuri Communication Network Saemal thesis included ‘반모 (informal language mode)’ in the list of new words used on SNS.[1]
03Origin & word formation
Short for 반말 모드, meaning informal-speech mode. The spring 2013 issue of the National Institute of Korean Language's New Korean Language Life explicitly gives this explanation. Who first used it and when have not been verified.
Evidence for the origin explanationHigh
A government publication explicitly explains the term. When it began is unknown.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- 누리소통망과 새말의 형성 — 새국어생활 제23권 제1호(2013년 봄) (국립국어원)Published 2013Original source checked Nov 5, 2026