noun Pop Culture

Oppa

/ˈoʊ.pa/ · noun · informal

Korean for 'older brother' used by women — turned into stan-speak for an older male idol.

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Definitions

1

A Korean term a girl or woman uses to address an older male — literally 'older brother,' but also for older male friends, partners, or idols.

“She always calls her older cousin oppa.”
by community
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2

In K-pop fandom, an affectionate way for fans to refer to a male idol older than them.

“Oppa worked so hard this comeback, I'm proud.”
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3

Used (sometimes mockingly) by non-Korean fans as a flirty or fawning label for any attractive Korean man.

“Saw one fancam and now he's oppa, I don't make the rules.”
by community
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Oppa In A Sentence

oppa noticed my sign at the concert i can die happy
stop calling him oppa he's literally younger than you
the 'saranghae oppa' comments under every post are sending me

Origin & Usage

A native Korean kinship term (오빠) meaning 'older brother' from a female speaker's perspective; spread globally through K-dramas and K-pop as fan vocabulary.

Variants unniehyungnoona
Tags #kpop#korean#pop#fandom

People Also Ask

What does oppa mean?

It's Korean for 'older brother' used by women, but in K-pop it's how female fans affectionately refer to an older male idol.

Can guys say oppa?

No — guys use 'hyung' for an older male. 'Oppa' is specifically a female speaker addressing an older male.

What does oppa mean in slang?

Online it often gets used flirtatiously to mean a cute or admired older Korean man, sometimes ironically.

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