알음알음

Korean

Etymology

Reduplication of 알음 (areum), nominalized form of 알다 (alda, “to know”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [a̠ɾɯma̠ɾɯm]
• Phonetic hangul: [아르마름]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	areumareum
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	al'eum'al'eum
McCune–Reischauer?	arŭmarŭm
Yale Romanization?	al.um.al.um

• Homophone: 아름아름 (areumareum)

Noun

알음알음 • (areumareum)

1. a relationship of mutual acquaintance
   • 2020, “지자체의 '알음알음 채용'은 특혜 아닌가 [jijache'ui areumareum chaeyong eun teukhye anin'ga]”, in Gwangju Ilbo‎^[1]:

     코로나 단기 아르바이트 인력을 공고도 없이 알음알음 방식으로 채용해 특혜 논란을 빚고 있다.

     Korona dan'gi areubaiteu illyeog-eul gonggo-do eops-i areumareum bangsig-euro chaeyonghae teukhye nollan-eul bitgo itda.

     A controversy about preferentialism has been raised after part-time workers for coronavirus[-related work] were hired via mutual acquaintances, without even a public notice.