ELEVEN — IVE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync긴 꿈을 꾸게 해 이 방은 작은 Heavengin kku·meul kku·ge hae i bang·eun ja·geun HeavenYou make me see long dreams, this room is a small heavenListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “ELEVEN,” IVE sings about a girl startled to discover how many shades her heart has once love arrives. Her blank look comes alive around this person, and her feelings prove many-layered, tinted blue and purple. Her room turns into a private paradise where she spins until dizzy and keeps counting. She'd rather not rush, content to see herself in the other's eyes, until she admits she has fallen in love.
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.
긴 꿈을 꾸게 해 이 방은 작은 HeavenListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): gin kku·meul kku·ge hae i bang·eun ja·geun Heaven
Meaning: You make me see long dreams, this room is a small heaven
Words in this line- 긴ginlong
- 꿈을kku·meuldreams
- 꾸게kku·gesee
- 해haemake
- 이ithis
- 방은bang·eunroom
- 작은ja·geunsmall
Word for word: Long dream make see, this room small heaven.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 긴 꿈 (long dreams) is a metaphor for deep love where time loses meaning. 작은 Heaven (small heaven) contrasts the modesty of the place with the magnitude of feelings that transform it.
감히 누가 이렇게 날 설레게 할 줄Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): gam·hi nu·ga i·reo·ke nal seol·le·ge hal jjul
Meaning: Who would have thought someone could make my heart flutter like this?
Words in this line- 감히gam·hidaringly
- 누가nu·gawho
- 이렇게i·reo·kelike this
- 날nalme
- 설레게seol·le·geflutter
- 할halmake
- 줄jjul(particle)
Word for word: Daringly who like this me flutter make knew?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 감히 (daringly) doesn't mean boldness here but expresses amazement—the speaker never expected this. 설레게 (flutter, thrill) is a specific Korean word for heart-racing excitement and anticipation. Together the phrase conveys shock at unexpected happiness.
내 앞에 있는 너를 그 눈에 비친 나를Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nae a·pe in·neun neo·reul geu nu·ne bi·chin na·reul
Meaning: You in front of me, and me reflected in your eyes.
Words in this line- 내naemy
- 앞에a·pein front of
- 있는in·neunbeing
- 너를neo·reulyou
- 그geuthat
- 눈에nu·nein eyes
- 비친bi·chinreflected
- 나를na·reulme
Word for word: my in front of being you that in eyes reflected me
Why it doesn't translate word for word: This one reads fairly naturally once reordered, but Korean marks "you" and "me" as objects after long descriptive phrases, so "in front of me" and "reflected in your eyes" come before the nouns they modify. It means you're right in front of me, and I see myself reflected in your eyes. Key word: 비친 (reflected).
미처 몰랐어 내 맘이 이리 다채로운지 whoa whoa whoaListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): mi·cheo mol·la·sseo nae ma·mi i·ri da·chae·ro·un·ji whoa whoa whoa
Meaning: I didn't know my heart was so multifaceted (whoa, whoa, whoa).
Words in this line- 미처mi·cheodidn't
- 몰랐어mol·la·sseoknow
- 내naemy
- 맘이ma·miheart
- 이리i·riso
- 다채로운지da·chae·ro·un·jimultifaceted
Word for word: didn't know my heart so multifaceted whoa whoa whoa
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Korean places the clause 다채로운지 (whether multifaceted) before the verb 몰랐어 (didn't know), since the verb comes last, so the literal version reads backward. 미처 marks "not until now" with a negative verb. It just means she never realized how many-sided her own heart was.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “ELEVEN” — IVE. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask SoheeSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가만히 | ga·man·hi | quietly |
| 간지럽힌 | gan·ji·reo·pin | tickling |
| 감정들은 | gam·jeong·deu·reun | feelings |
| 그날 | geu·nal | that day |
| 기분 | gi·bun | feeling |
| 낯선 | nat·sseon | unfamiliar |
| 너와 | neo·wa | you and |
| 눈동자는 | nun·dong·ja·neun | pupils |
| 눈빛이 | nun·bi·chi | gaze |
| 느끼는 | neu·kki·neun | experiencing |
| 담은 | da·meun | filled with |
| 됐거든 | dwaet·kkeo·deun | happened |
| 바라봐 | ba·ra·bwa | gaze |
| 실컷 | sil·keot | fully |
| 어지러울 | eo·ji·reo·ul | dizzy |
| 채우고 | chae·u·go | filling |
| 추곤 | chu·gon | often |
| 춤을 | chu·meul | dance |
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Questions about “ELEVEN”
What is “ELEVEN” by IVE about?
In “ELEVEN,” IVE sings about a girl startled to discover how many shades her heart has once love arrives.
What does “긴 꿈을 꾸게 해 이 방은 작은 Heaven” mean in “ELEVEN”?
You make me see long dreams, this room is a small heaven. 긴 꿈 (long dreams) is a metaphor for deep love where time loses meaning.
What does “감히 누가 이렇게 날 설레게 할 줄” mean in “ELEVEN”?
Who would have thought someone could make my heart flutter like this? 감히 (daringly) doesn't mean boldness here but expresses amazement—the speaker never expected this.
How do you pronounce “내 앞에 있는 너를 그 눈에 비친 나를”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “nae a·pe in·neun neo·reul geu nu·ne bi·chin na·reul”: that's how it's actually sung by IVE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “ELEVEN” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sohee goes through all 39 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
- IVE
- Official video
- IVE · 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.