Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Science

Why Korean 'aegyo' speech sounds cute: Adults raise vocal resonances to sound younger and smaller

In Korean, the term "aegyo" denotes a playful cuteness put on by adults to win someone's affection, typically in romantic contexts. This is usually accomplished with bashful expressions or a childlike manner of speaking sometimes known as "baby talk" in Western cultures.

Why Korean 'aegyo' speech sounds cute: Adults raise vocal resonances to sound younger and smaller
Image: Phys.org
In Korean, the term "aegyo" denotes a playful cuteness put on by adults to win someone's affection, typically in romantic contexts. This is usually accomplished with bashful expressions or a childlike manner of speaking sometimes known as "baby talk" in Western cultures.

Originally published at Phys.org

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