DALLA DALLA — ITZY: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync외모만 보고 내가 날라리 같대요 no nooe·mo·man bo·go nae·ga nal·la·ri gat·ttae·yo no noThey judge me by looks alone and call me a flirt (no, no)Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
ITZY's “DALLA DALLA” is about a girl who refuses to let others define her and chooses to love herself exactly as she is. Labeled a flirt and told she is immature or lacking real charm, she shrugs off the judgment, puts her own pleasure and style first, and sees no reason to change for anyone's standards. Near the end she turns to encourage others to stay hopeful and keep chasing their dreams, so the mood is confident, playful and quietly supportive.
Key lines
4 lines from the song in Korean, with how they sound and what they mean. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
외모만 보고 내가 날라리 같대요 no noListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): oe·mo·man bo·go nae·ga nal·la·ri gat·ttae·yo no no
Meaning: They judge me by looks alone and call me a flirt (no, no)
Words in this line- 외모만oe·mo·manappearance only
- 보고bo·golooking at
- 내가nae·gaI
- 날라리nal·la·riflirt/flashy girl
- 같대요gat·ttae·yothey say seems like
Word for word: Appearance-only seeing, I flirt seem-they-say (no, no)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '날라리' is judgmental slang, not a neutral word; '같대요' = 'seems like'+'they say' — it's someone else's label relayed as hearsay, not the singer's own admission.
애들과 난 달라 달라 달라 다달라달라Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ae·deul·gwa nan dal·la dal·la dal·la da·dal·la·dal·la
Meaning: I'm different, different, different from those girls (dalladalla)
Words in this line- 애들과ae·deul·gwafrom those girls
- 난nanI
- 달라dal·ladifferent
- 달라dal·ladifferent
- 달라dal·ladifferent
- 다달라달라da·dal·la·dal·la(scat: different-different)
Word for word: Kids-with I-topic differ, differ, differ (da-differs-differs)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: This completes the clause from the previous verse ('girls who are only pretty, with no charm') — she's not one of them. '달라' is a conjugated form of '다르다' (to differ) and the song's title word; the closing '다달라달라' echoes the intro's syllables, closing the loop.
언니들이 말해 내가 너무 당돌하대 (I'm sorry, sorry)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): eon·ni·deu·ri ma·rae nae·ga neo·mu dang·do·ra·dae a·im sorry, sor·ee
Meaning: The unnies say I'm too bold (I'm sorry, sorry)
Words in this line- 언니들이eon·ni·deu·riunnies
- 말해ma·raesay
- 내가nae·gaI
- 너무neo·mutoo
- 당돌하대dang·do·ra·daetoo bold, they say
Word for word: Older-sisters say I-too bold-they-say (I'm sorry, sorry)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 당돌하대 = 당돌하다 (bold) + 대 (reported speech); from elders it's not a compliment but a scolding for being 'too forward for a modest girl' — hence the sarcastic apology.
네 기준에 날 맞추려 하지 마Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ne gi·ju·ne nal mat·chu·ryeo ha·ji ma
Meaning: Don't try to fit me into your standards
Words in this line- 네neyour
- 기준에gi·ju·neto standard
- 날nalme
- 맞추려mat·chu·ryeoto fit
- 하지ha·jidon't (do)
- 마madon't
Word for word: To your standard me to-fit trying don't do
Why it doesn't translate word for word: "맞추려 하지 마" combines "맞추려" (trying to fit) with the prohibitive "하지 마" (don't do); together "don't try to fit [me]".
Lyrics © their rights holders. “DALLA DALLA” — ITZY. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
A line from the song with one word missing: listen, then pick the right word. Rena checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Rena about this song
Why this word and not another? What does that slang mean? Ask in your own words and your idol answers about this exact line.
Ask RenaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 거야 | geo·ya | will |
| 고개를 | go·gae·reul | head |
| 기죽지 | gi·juk·jji | don't be discouraged |
| 꿈을 | kku·meul | dream |
| 나는 | na·neun | I |
| 나니까 | na·ni·kka | because it's me |
| 나야 | na·ya | am me |
| 남들의 | nam·deu·rui | other people's |
| 너랑 | neo·rang | from you |
| 들고 | deul·go | raise and |
| 말리지 | mal·li·ji | stop (me) |
| 매력은 | mae·ryeo·geun | [but] charm |
| 뭔가 | mwon·ga | somehow |
| 생각 | saeng·gak | thought/intention |
| 신경 | sin·gyeong | nerve |
| 없어요 | eop·sseo·yo | there is none |
| 예쁘기만 | ye·ppeu·gi·man | only pretty |
| 좋아 | jo·a | like |
Keep these 18 words
Make a free account and the words from “DALLA DALLA” go to your study notebook with spaced review, so they come back right before you forget them.
Create a free accountWith Google, Apple or email · 10 seconds
Questions about “DALLA DALLA”
What is “DALLA DALLA” by ITZY about?
ITZY's “DALLA DALLA” is about a girl who refuses to let others define her and chooses to love herself exactly as she is.
What does “외모만 보고 내가 날라리 같대요 no no” mean in “DALLA DALLA”?
They judge me by looks alone and call me a flirt (no, no). '날라리' is judgmental slang, not a neutral word; '같대요' = 'seems like'+'they say' — it's someone else's label relayed as hearsay, not the singer's own admission.
What does “애들과 난 달라 달라 달라 다달라달라” mean in “DALLA DALLA”?
I'm different, different, different from those girls (dalladalla). This completes the clause from the previous verse ('girls who are only pretty, with no charm') — she's not one of them.
How do you pronounce “언니들이 말해 내가 너무 당돌하대 (I'm sorry, sorry)”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “eon·ni·deu·ri ma·rae nae·ga neo·mu dang·do·ra·dae a·im sorry, sor·ee”: that's how it's actually sung by ITZY, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “DALLA DALLA” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Rena goes through all 50 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
The video loads from YouTube only when you press play. YouTube ↗
Credits and sources
- Artist
- ITZY
- Official video
- JYP Entertainment · YouTube
Lyrics and music belong to their rights holders. This page quotes no more than four lines for commentary; the translations, pronunciation and explanations are written by theIDOL.