What does saranghae (사랑해) mean?

What it means

Saranghae is the informal form. The polite version adds 요: 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo), which you would use with someone older or in a more formal setting.

Couples often say it simply and quietly. In dramas, the first “saranghae” is usually a big moment.

When couples use it

Couples say it on the phone, at the end of a call, in a text before sleep, or in a letter. Many people say it less often than in English-speaking cultures, so it can feel significant.

It is also said between family members, so the tone and the moment tell you what kind of love is meant.

Example

A short text before bed.

Related words

• bogo sipeo (보고 싶어)
• jagiya (자기야)
• baegil (백일)
• All Korean couple words