Korean Dictionary
How to say "Elated" in Korean
“Elated” in Korean is 의기양양하다 (pronounced "Uigiyangyanghada").
의기양양하다
Uigiyangyanghada
Usage & Context
Describes a triumphant, high-spirited feeling after success. Often used after winning competitions or achieving something great. Korean sports news frequently uses this word to describe winning teams or athletes.
Example Sentence
팀이 우승하고 나서 모두 의기양양했어요.
Everyone was elated after the team won the championship.
How to use 의기양양하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Elated” is 의기양양하다, romanized as Uigiyangyanghada.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 의기양양하다.
Pronunciation Guide
의 (Ui) is like 'wee' in 'week' but with a slight 'oo' sound. 기 (gi) sounds like 'gee' in 'geese'. 양 (yang) is like 'yang' in 'yin and yang'. The '양양' part has a repetitive, bouncy feel. 하 (ha) is like 'ha' in 'haha'. 다 (da) is like 'da' in 'dad'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
의기양양합니다
Uigiyangyanghamnida
Standard formal ending for descriptive verbs.
Casual (반말)
의기양양해
Uigiyangyanghae
Standard casual ending for descriptive verbs.
More Example Sentences
Describing someone's triumphant look after a major achievement.
어려운 프로젝트를 성공적으로 마친 후 그는 의기양양한 표정이었다.
After successfully completing the difficult project, he had an elated expression.
Students feeling proud after academic success.
시험에 합격한 학생들은 모두 의기양양하게 교실을 나섰다.
The students who passed the exam all left the classroom elated.
Sports team celebrating a victory.
우리 팀이 결승전에서 이기자 선수들은 의기양양하게 환호했다.
When our team won the final, the players cheered elatedly.
Cultural Context
의기양양하다 carries a strong sense of triumph and pride, often after overcoming a challenge or achieving a significant victory. It's not just 'happy' but 'proudly happy' or 'triumphantly happy.' You'll frequently hear this word in sports commentaries when a team wins, or in news reports about successful ventures. It implies a visible display of high spirits and confidence.
Editorial note
We review entries like 의기양양하다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
의기양양한 표정
An elated expression
의기양양하게 돌아오다
To return elatedly
의기양양한 승리
A triumphant victory
Related Expressions
기세등등하다
Gisedeungdeunghada
Full of vigor, high-spirited (similar, often implies a bit of arrogance)
자신만만하다
Jasinmanmanhada
Very confident, self-assured
우쭐대다
Ujjuldaeda
To boast, to be conceited (negative connotation of being overly proud)
풀이 죽다
Puri jukda
To be dejected, disheartened (antonym)
More Emotions Words
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