셀카 (selka)
"Selfie" in Korean — short for 셀프카메라 ("self camera"). The default word for self-portrait photos.
- Meaning: "Selfie" in Korean — short for 셀프카메라 ("self camera"). The default word for self-portrait photos.
- Pronunciation: /sel.kʰa/ (selka)
- Part of speech: noun
- Formality: Casual — for friends, family, and close peers.
- Literal: self camera
What does 셀카 mean?
Selka (셀카) is Korean for "selfie" — short for 셀프카메라 (selpeu kamera, "self camera"). Koreans coined it in the early 2000s, about a decade before English popularized "selfie." The verb form is 셀카 찍다 (selka jjikda, "to take a selfie").
셀카 (selka) is Korean for "selfie." It is an abbreviation of 셀프카메라 (selpeu kamera, "self camera") and predates the English word "selfie" — Koreans coined the term in the early 2000s when front-facing cell phone cameras first appeared. K-pop idols, K-drama actors, and everyday Koreans use 셀카 constantly: posting on social media, taking fan photos, and capturing memories. There is even a verb form: 셀카 찍다 (selka jjikda, "to take a selfie").
Examples in context
Suggesting a selfie
Reacting to how it came out
Asking for / sending photos
K-pop fan context
팬싸 (paenssa) is the slang short form of 팬사인회 (fansign event).
셀카in K-pop & K-drama
Korea coined it first
셀카 existed in Korean years before "selfie" entered English — Korea’s early front-camera phones and the photo-sharing culture of Cyworld 미니홈피 made self-portraits a daily habit back in the early 2000s.
셀카봉 & selfie culture
The 셀카봉 (selfie stick) became a Korean travel-and-tourism staple, and "셀카 명소" (selfie spots) are marked at cafes and landmarks; nailing the flattering 얼짱 각도 ("best-face angle") is its own small art.
K-pop fan-meet 셀카
A 셀카 with your 최애 (bias) at a 팬싸 (fansign) is a holy grail of K-pop fandom; idols also post 셀카 to connect with fans, and those selfies get saved, shared, and turned into fan goods almost instantly.
When to use 셀카
- Social media captions and chats
- Asking friends for or to take photos
- K-pop fan-meet and concert contexts
- Casual everyday conversation
When NOT to use 셀카
- Professional photography contexts — say 자가 촬영 (jaga chwaryeong, "self-photography") for formal use
- Formal writing or news — 셀프 사진 ("self photo") is more neutral
- When emphasizing a posed group photo — that is 단체 사진 (danche sajin)
셀카 vs. similar terms
Korean selfie & photo words
| Word | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 셀카 (selka) | Konglish 셀프카메라 ("self camera") | Selfie — the everyday word |
| 셀피 (selpi) | direct loan of English "selfie" | Newer borrowing; less common than 셀카 |
| 셀카봉 (selkabong) | 셀카 + 봉 ("stick") | Selfie stick |
| 단체 사진 (danche sajin) | Sino-Korean "group photo" | A posed group shot, not a selfie |
Related terms
More in Konglish & loanwords
Everyday Korean words coined from English roots — daily-life vocab that surprises learners.
"Cell phone" in Korean — Konglish "hand phone." The everyday word Koreans actually use, more common than the textbook term 휴대폰.
"Laptop" in Korean — from English "notebook." The everyday word for laptop computers, NOT for paper notebooks.
"Iced americano" — Korea's most-consumed coffee drink, the cultural-meme staple even Koreans drink in the dead of winter.
"Mental breakdown" — Korean slang for being completely overwhelmed, frozen, or short-circuiting from shock.
Frequently asked questions
What does 셀카 mean in Korean?
셀카 (selka) means "selfie" in Korean. It is an abbreviation of 셀프카메라 (selpeu kamera, "self camera") and is the default word Koreans use for self-portrait photos. Verb form: 셀카 찍다 (selka jjikda, "to take a selfie").
Is 셀카 older than the English "selfie"?
Yes. Koreans coined 셀카 in the early 2000s when phones first got front-facing cameras. The English word "selfie" did not become widespread until around 2013 (Oxford named it "word of the year"). For about a decade, Korean had a word for the concept that English did not.
How do you say "let's take a selfie" in Korean?
"Let's take a selfie" is 셀카 찍자 (selka jjikja) in casual Korean, or 셀카 한 장 찍어요 (selka han jang jjigeoyo) in polite Korean. The verb 찍다 (jjikda) means "to take/snap a photo."
How is 셀카 pronounced?
셀카 is pronounced [sel.kʰa] — "sel-ka," two syllables. The "셀" rhymes with English "sell"; the "카" has an aspirated K sound (a strong "kʰa" with breath). Romanization: selka (Revised), with the spelling matching how an English speaker would naturally say it.
What is the difference between 셀카 and 셀피?
셀카 (selka) is the original Korean word, from 셀프카메라 ("self camera"), while 셀피 (selpi) is a newer direct borrowing of the English "selfie." Both mean the same thing, but 셀카 is far more common and natural in everyday Korean; 셀피 sounds trendier or more imported.
What is 셀카봉?
셀카봉 (selkabong) is a "selfie stick" — 셀카 (selfie) + 봉 (bong, "pole/stick"). It is the extendable arm you clip your phone to for wider selfies, and a hugely popular travel accessory in Korea.
Further reading
External references for cross-checking the information on this page.
- Selfie — Wikipedia
History of the self-portrait photo and its global naming.
- Konglish — Wikipedia
The category of Korean-coined English-derived words that 셀카 belongs to.
More Korean slang?
Browse the full Korean Slang Dictionary or read the deep-dive: Korean Slang Ultimate Guide.