noraebang
/ˈnoʊ.raɪ.bæŋ/
Korean Origin
Culture
Original Word
노래방
Hangul (noraebang)
Entered English
2000s
First recorded usage in English
The Story Behind "noraebang"
From Korean 'noraebang' (노래방), from 'norae' (song) + 'bang' (room), a Korean karaoke room. Unlike Western-style karaoke bars, noraebang offers private rooms for groups to sing together, a cornerstone of Korean social life.
Example Usage
"After dinner, we went to a noraebang and sang K-pop songs until midnight."