Korean · Words & Expressions
어머
eomeo
Also written: omo; omona; 어머나
A Korean exclamation of surprise, shock, admiration, concern, or sudden realization, conventionally associated more often with female speakers.
Literal meaning
oh my; goodness
Cultural context
Eomeo can be sincere, delighted, scandalized, worried, or performatively dramatic. Repetition—such as 어머, 어머—heightens the reaction and often appears in family, neighborhood, workplace, and social scenes.
How dramas use it
Characters use it after witnessing a surprise arrival, romantic reveal, embarrassing mistake, unexpected gift, public confrontation, or secret that has just become impossible to hide.
Usage & formality
The popular subtitle-style spelling “omo” reflects how the word can sound, while Revised Romanization is eomeo. 어머나 is an expanded form with a similar function.