몰래카메라

Korean

Alternative forms

  • 몰카 (molka)abbreviation

Etymology

From 몰래 (mollae, secretly) +‎ 카메라 (kamera, camera). Derives from the name of a popular 1991~1992 South Korean television show.[1]

Pronunciation

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [mo̞ɭɭɛkʰa̠me̞ɾa̠] ~ [mo̞ɭɭe̞kʰa̠me̞ɾa̠]
  • Phonetic hangul: [/]
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?mollaekamera
Revised Romanization (translit.)?mollaekamela
McCune–Reischauer?mollaek'amera
Yale Romanization?mollay.khameyla

Noun

몰래카메라 • (mollaekamera)

  1. spycam, secret camera
    몰래카메라 설치하려다가 적발되었다.
    Geu-neun mollaekamera-reul seolchiharyeo-daga jeokbaldoeeotda.
    He was caught trying to install a secret camera.
  2. hidden camera crime
    Synonym: 도촬 (dochwal)
    몰래카메라 범죄 조심하세요.
    Mollaekamera beomjoe-reul josim-haseyo.
    Watch out for hidden camera crimes.
  3. hidden camera prank
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)

References

  1. ^ 몰래카메라의 추억, 불만제로와 기무사를 재는 잣대”, in 미디어스 [Mediaus]‎[1] (in Korean), 21 September 2009, retrieved 4 May 2025