K-pop Culture Stage 2 · Comprehension
막내
maknae
The youngest (of a group)
🗣️ How to say it
mang-nae — the ㄱ before ㄴ softens to an 'ng' sound: 'mang-nae.'
📊 Meaning spectrum
youngest sibling →youngest member →the baby of the group
💬 When to use it
The youngest in any group — a family, a friend circle, or a K-pop group. '막내' often gets babied and protected.
쟤가 우리 팀 막내야. 🔊
She's the youngest on our team.
🧠 Culture note
Korea's age-based hierarchy makes 막내 a real role, not just a fact. There's even '막내 라인' (maknae line) for the younger members of an idol group.
✅ Use it / ❌ Don't
✅ Talking about the youngest idol in a group
✅ Referring to the youngest in a friend group
🎬 Where you've heard it
🎯 Quick quiz
What does 막내 mean?