Korean Dictionary
How to say "Viral" in Korean
“Viral” in Korean is 바이럴 (pronounced "bailleol").
바이럴
bailleol
Usage & Context
Viral refers to content that spreads rapidly across the internet. K-pop songs, challenges, and memes regularly go viral globally, demonstrating the genre's unparalleled digital reach.
Example Sentence
그 노래의 챌린지 영상이 틱톡에서 바이럴됐다.
The challenge video for that song went viral on TikTok.
How to use 바이럴 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Viral” is 바이럴, romanized as bailleol.
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 바이럴.
Pronunciation Guide
바이럴 (ba-i-reol) sounds like 'bye-ee-rul.' 'Bye' as in 'goodbye,' 'ee' as in 'see,' and 'rul' like the start of 'ruler.' The 'ㄹ' (l/r) sound at the end is a light 'l' sound.
More Example Sentences
Describing a trending social media challenge.
이 챌린지가 SNS에서 바이럴되고 있어.
This challenge is going viral on social media.
Talking about a video that rapidly gained popularity.
그 영상은 순식간에 바이럴이 됐다.
That video went viral in an instant.
Discussing modern marketing trends.
바이럴 마케팅은 요즘 필수적인 홍보 전략이다.
Viral marketing is an essential promotional strategy these days.
Cultural Context
'바이럴' is a direct loanword from English 'viral' and is very commonly used in Korea, especially in the context of social media, marketing, and online content. It's often paired with '되다' (doeda - to become) to mean 'to go viral' (바이럴되다). K-pop idols and their agencies actively engage in '바이럴 마케팅' (viral marketing) to promote new songs and content, often through dance challenges or memes that encourage fan participation.
Editorial note
We review entries like 바이럴 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
바이럴되다
To go viral
바이럴 영상
Viral video
바이럴 마케팅
Viral marketing
Related Expressions
유행하다
yuhaenghada
To be in fashion/trend
입소문
ipsomun
Word of mouth (literally 'mouth rumor')
퍼지다
peojida
To spread
인기 폭발
ingi pokbal
Explosion of popularity
More Korean Pop Culture Words
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