Korean Dictionary
How to say "All In" in Korean
“All In” in Korean is 영끌 (pronounced "yeong kkul").
영끌
yeong kkul
Usage & Context
Abbreviation meaning to go all in or invest everything. Used in investment contexts to describe putting all money into stocks.
Example Sentence
주식에 영끌했어.
I went all in on stocks.
How to use 영끌 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “All In” is 영끌, romanized as yeong kkul.
Usage tip
Use slang only with friends or people who already speak casually with you. It can sound rude in formal Korean.
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 영끌.
Pronunciation Guide
'영끌' is pronounced 'yeong kkul'. 'Yeong' sounds like the English word 'young'. 'Kkul' sounds like 'kool' (as in cool weather), but with a tense, aspirated 'k' sound. The stress is fairly even on both syllables.
More Example Sentences
A young couple discussing their efforts to buy a home.
내 집 마련하려고 영끌해서 대출 받았어.
I took out a loan, going all in to buy my own house.
A startup founder talking about their venture.
이번 프로젝트에 영끌해서 모든 걸 걸었어.
I went all in on this project, putting everything on the line.
Someone lamenting a bad investment decision.
영끌해서 산 주식이 반토막 났어.
The stock I bought going all in on was cut in half.
Cultural Context
'영끌' is short for '영혼까지 끌어모으다' (yeonghonkkaji kkeureomoeuda), meaning 'to gather even your soul.' It vividly describes a situation where someone pools every last bit of their financial resources, often including loans, to make a significant purchase or investment, typically a house or stocks. This term became prevalent during the real estate and stock market booms in the late 2010s and early 2020s, reflecting the intense competition and desperation among young Koreans to secure assets.
Editorial note
We flag slang like 영끌 for register and audience, since Korean slang can shift quickly and may sound rude outside close friendships.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
영끌해서 집 샀어.
I bought a house going all in.
영끌 투자.
All-in investment.
영끌 대출.
All-in loan.
Related Expressions
전재산
jeonjaesan
all one's assets
몰빵
molppang
putting all eggs in one basket, going all in
빚투
bittu
debt investment (often accompanies 영끌)
대출
daechul
loan
More Slang Words
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