Every Korean comment section has it. Every group chat uses it. ㄹㅇ is the ultimate Korean reaction, and once you learn it, you’ll start seeing it everywhere.
What Is ㄹㅇ?
ㄹㅇ is short for 리얼 (rieal, from English “real”).
It’s the Korean equivalent of:
- “For real”
- “Legit”
- “Facts”
- “No cap”
How It’s Used
1. Agreement
When someone says something you totally agree with:
“The weather is so cold lately” / “For real, it’s crazy”
2. Emphasis
To stress that something is true:
“This game is legit fun” / “Agree” / “For real for real”
3. Disbelief (Sarcastic)
When something is so ridiculous it must be real:
“I missed the bus right in front of me” / “For real? lolol”
Variations
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ㄹㅇ | Real / For real |
| ㄹㅇㄹㅇ | Really really |
| ㄹㅇ? | Really? (questioning) |
| ㄹㅇㅋㅋ | For real lol |
| ㄹㅇ루다가 | “Real” + emphasis (playful) |
Related Expressions
ㅇㅈ (injeong) - “I acknowledge” / “Agreed”
Short for 인정 (injeong)
ㄴㅇㅌ (no-in-ti) - “No”
Opposite of ㅇㅈ, means disagreement
ㅇㄱㄹㅇ (igeonrieon) - “This is real”
Short for 이거 레알 (igeo real)
Where You’ll See It
- YouTube comments
- Game chats
- KakaoTalk groups
- Online communities (DC Inside, etc.)
- Twitter/X
My Experience
I use ㄹㅇ probably 10 times a day. My husband sends me something funny, I reply ㄹㅇㅋㅋㅋ. Someone in my mom’s group complains about kids, everyone replies ㄹㅇ. It’s just… essential.
Even my toddler is starting to pick it up. She heard me say “ㄹㅇ?” to my husband and now she repeats it whenever she agrees with something. Kids absorb everything.