How to say "Baby" in Korean

To correctly pronounce 아기 (Agi), focus on the two syllables. '아' (a) sounds like the 'a' in "father". '기' (gi) sounds like the 'gi' in "give". The 'g' sound is a soft 'g', not aspirated. Put it together: "Ah-gee". Practice saying it smoothly without emphasizing either syllable too much. The pronunciation is relatively straightforward for English speakers.

아기 (Agi) specifically refers to a very young child, typically from birth up to around two years old, much like "baby" in English. For slightly older children, other terms like 아이 (ai) for "child" or 어린이 (eorini) for "young child/kid" are more appropriate. While 아기 can sometimes be used endearingly for slightly older kids by parents, its primary meaning is infant.

아기 (Agi) is generally a neutral to informal term used commonly in everyday conversation, especially within families. It's not considered highly formal or informal, but rather descriptive. When speaking to a baby, parents often use baby talk, which inherently makes the interaction informal. When referring to a baby in a formal setting, you would simply use 아기 (Agi) without adding honorifics.

Beyond 아기 (Agi), many affectionate terms exist. 애기 (aegi) is a very common, slightly cuter variant often used by parents. Some may use 우리 아기 (uri agi), meaning "our baby," to express endearment. Darling or sweetheart equivalents include 내 새끼 (nae saekki), though this can be very informal and only used among very close family, or 귀염둥이 (gwiyeomdung-i) meaning "cutie pie."

A common mistake is using 아기 (Agi) for children who are clearly past the infant stage. While some parents might affectionately call their toddler "아기," it's generally best to use 아이 (ai) or 어린이 (eorini) for kids older than two. Another potential mistake is trying to add honorifics to 아기, which isn't necessary as 아기 itself refers to a non-sentient being in terms of social hierarchy.