매우

maeu · TOPIK 1

very, extremely

maeu sounds like mega with the g dropped: mega = very, extremely

Say mega quickly and let the g fall away: me-a, close to mae-u. Mega already works as an English intensifier, so the sound carries the meaning. 매우 is the formal, written-style very; 아주 and 너무 are its more casual cousins.

More Korean words · How Korean works