Korean slang profile

패피

paepi

Short for ‘패션피플’: people interested in clothing and trends who express their own style.

Expanded form: 패션피플패션피플 (fashion people)
Other spellings: —
Earliest source found: Mar 1, 2020
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
친구는 옷을 고르는 감각이 좋아서 우리 사이의 패피야.
My friend has a great eye for clothes and is the fashion person in our group.

02Documented history

March 2020이데일리 gave ‘패피’ alongside ‘패션피플’ when introducing retro fashion.[1]
September 2020코스모폴리탄 used ‘패피’ in an account of taking an interest in fashion and joining an online community.[2]

03Origin & word formation

A 2020 이데일리 article gives both forms as ‘패피(패션피플)’. 코스모폴리탄 also used it that year for someone interested in fashion. Who first shortened it and when could not be established.

Evidence for the origin explanationMedium

The explanation and usage were compared in the source. When it was first created could not be established.

04Sources

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

[복GO를 찾아서]'패피'가 되고 싶다면 '할머니 장롱'을 뒤져라 (이데일리)Published Mar 1, 2020Original source checked Nov 13, 2026
신조어로 쓴 글, 이거 이해하면 젠지 인정! (코스모폴리탄)Published Sep 19, 2020Original source checked Nov 13, 2026