I posted a photo of my Maltese on Instagram with the caption “우리 댕댕이” and my foreign friend asked “What’s a daengdaengi? Is that a breed?” That’s when I realized… this needs explaining.
The Strangest Korean Wordplay
You know how in English, people write “thicc” instead of “thick” or “smol” instead of “small”?
Korean has something WAY weirder: 야민정음 (yaminjungeum).
It’s wordplay based on how Korean letters LOOK similar to other letters. Not how they sound. How they LOOK.
And the most famous example? 댕댕이 (daengdaengi) = puppy.
댕댕이 vs 멍멍이
The normal, dictionary word for “puppy” (in a cute way) is:
멍멍이 (meongmeongi) = from 멍멍 (meongmeong), the Korean “woof woof”
But look at these letters closely:
| Original | 야민정음 |
|---|---|
| 멍 | 댕 |
| ㅁ + ㅓ | ㄷ + ㅐ |
See it? The letter 멍 kind of looks like 댕 if you squint!
- ㅁ (m) looks like ㄷ (d)
- ㅓ (eo) looks like ㅐ (ae)
So Koreans started writing 댕댕이 instead of 멍멍이. And it stuck. HARD.
Why 댕댕이 Became So Popular
Most 야민정음 words are awkward to say out loud. But 댕댕이?
- Easy to pronounce
- Sounds cute and bouncy
- Matches the adorable puppy vibe
It’s now SO mainstream that:
- Pet insurance ads use it
- Dog cafes have it in their names
- Even government offices use “댕댕이 학교” for dog training programs
How 야민정음 Works
The name 야민정음 is a joke combining:
- 야갤 (Yagael) - DC Inside’s baseball gallery where it started
- 훈민정음 (Hunminjungeum) - The original name for the Korean alphabet
The Rules
1. Letter Shape Swap Find letters that look similar and swap them:
| Looks Like | Example |
|---|---|
| 멍 ↔ 댕 | 멍멍이 → 댕댕이 |
| 귀 ↔ 커 | 귀엽다 → 커엽다 |
| 며 ↔ 띠 | 명작 → 띵작 |
| 광 ↔ 팡 | 광역시 → 팡역시 |
2. Rotation Rotate words 90° or 180°:
- 뜨또 rotated = 비버 (beaver)
- 육군 flipped = 곤뇽
3. Mix with Chinese Characters
- 김장훈 → 숲튽훈 (金 looks like 숲, 長 looks like 튽)
Popular 야민정음 Words You’ll See
1. 커엽다 (koyeopda)
Original: 귀엽다 (gwiyeopda) = cute
Why it works: 귀 looks like 커
(Translation: “Ahh so cute” - using 커여워 instead of 귀여워)
2. 띵작 (ttingjak)
Original: 명작 (myeongjak) = masterpiece
Why it works: 며 looks like 띠
Used for movies, games, music that are chef’s kiss.
“이 영화 진짜 띵작임” = “This movie is a true masterpiece”
3. 머박 (meobak)
Original: 대박 (daebak) = amazing/wow
Why it works: 대 looks like 머
Less common than 대박, but you’ll see it.
4. 롬곡 (romgok)
Original: 눈물 (nunmul) = tears
Why it works: Flip 눈물 upside down = 롬곡
“세종대왕님이 롬곡 흘리실 듯” = “King Sejong would be crying” (at how we’re destroying his alphabet)
The Cultural Context
Why This Exists
Korean letters (Hangul) are made of geometric shapes - circles, squares, lines. This makes them perfect for visual wordplay.
Unlike English where letters are pretty distinct, Korean letters can genuinely look alike:
- ㅁ and ㄷ
- ㅓ and ㅐ
- ㅂ and ㅍ
The Humor
Part of the joke is that it’s “ruining” the beautiful Korean alphabet that King Sejong created. Koreans joke:
“세종대왕님이 무덤에서 일어나실 듯” “King Sejong would rise from his grave”
But it’s all in good fun.
Quick Reference
| 야민정음 | Original | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 댕댕이 | 멍멍이 | Puppy | |
| 커엽다 | 귀엽다 | Cute | |
| 띵작 | 명작 | Masterpiece | |
| 머박 | 대박 | Amazing |
My Experience
When I first saw “댕댕이” online, I was confused too. I knew it meant dog somehow, but WHY?
Then someone explained 야민정음 to me and my mind was blown. It’s such a uniquely Korean thing - only possible because of how Hangul is structured.
Now I use 댕댕이 all the time for my two Maltese babies. It just sounds cuter than 멍멍이, you know?
My husband thinks I’m being ridiculous. “Just say 강아지 like a normal person.” But where’s the fun in that?
Should You Use These?
Yes, use:
- 댕댕이 - Very mainstream, totally safe
- 커엽다 - Common online, cute contexts
- 띵작 - Casual reviews, recommendations
Maybe skip:
- 롬곡, 머박 - More niche, might confuse people
- Heavy 야민정음 - Can be hard to read
Never use in:
- Formal writing
- Work emails
- Talking to elders
Fun Fact: 댕댕이 Was Already a Word!
Here’s the plot twist: 댕댕이 was actually an old Korean word for a type of native Korean dog (동경견, Donggyeong-gyeon).
So while internet users thought they invented a new word, they accidentally revived an old one. King Sejong might actually approve!
Sources: Namu Wiki - 야민정음, Namu Wiki - 댕댕이, 우리말샘