What Does Borahae Mean? The Word V Gave to ARMY
5 min read
Borahae means "I purple you": a word V of BTS coined at a fan meeting on 13 November 2016, joining bora, Korean for purple, and saranghae, I love you. Purple is the last colour of the rainbow, so Borahae is a promise of love that lasts a long time. Today ARMY use it as a greeting, a sign-off and a way of saying "you are one of us", and on 13 November 2026 it turns ten.
Borahae, word by word
Borahae is not a word you will find in an old Korean dictionary. It is a blend, made up on the spot. In Hangul it is written 보라해 and it sounds roughly like "bo-ra-heh". The first half comes from bora, the Korean word for purple. The ending comes from saranghae, the everyday way to say I love you to someone close.
Put together, it does not translate neatly, which is exactly why the English-speaking fandom settled on "I purple you". It sounds slightly odd on purpose: it tells you that purple has become a verb, and that the verb means love.
- Bora (보라): purple.
- Saranghae (사랑해): I love you, said to someone close.
- Borahae (보라해): I purple you, meaning I will love you for a long time.
Who coined it: V, 13 November 2016
Borahae was coined by V, Kim Taehyung, at a BTS fan meeting on 13 November 2016. Explaining it to the audience, he said that purple is the last colour of the rainbow, so it means trusting and loving each other for a long time.
That is the whole origin story, and it is part of why the word stuck. It was not a slogan built by a marketing team or the title of a song. It was a thought a member shared with fans, and the fans picked it up and made it theirs. Within a few years it had become one of the words that define the fandom, used by the other members too.
Why purple became ARMY's colour
In V's explanation, purple matters because it comes last. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and indigo all come first; purple closes the rainbow. Being last means staying until the end, and that is the kind of love Borahae describes.
Since then, purple has become the colour of the whole fandom rather than of one member. Fans talk about a purple ocean when the lights in a stadium crowd glow together, and many ARMY wear one purple detail, a scarf, a ribbon, a bag charm, as a quiet way to recognise each other in a queue, on a train or at work.
How ARMY use Borahae today
There are no strict rules, but some uses are so common that knowing them will help you read fan accounts and group chats, or understand a friend or daughter who is deep in the fandom.
- As a sign-off: at the end of a message, a post caption or a long thread, the way you would write "love" before your name.
- As a greeting between fans: one person writes Borahae, the other answers with Borahae.
- On cards and gifts: in place of "with love" on a birthday card or a note tucked into a freebie.
- On banners at concerts and fan events, often next to a purple heart drawn by hand.
- In short form: "I purple u" in quick messages, or simply a purple heart.
How to reply when someone says Borahae
The simplest reply is the same word back: Borahae. In English, "I purple you too" works just as well and is very common. If someone writes it to you for the first time, they are being warm, not testing you: you do not need to know Korean to answer.
A few things to avoid. Borahae is not a joke word to drop sarcastically, and it is not only about V: he created it, but it now belongs to all seven and to every fan. And it is not a translation of "purple" alone; without the love part, it loses its meaning.
Borahae turns ten on Friday 13 November 2026
Friday 13 November 2026 marks ten years since V first said Borahae. It is not an official celebration like FESTA on 13 June, but many fans remember the date every year, and a tenth anniversary is a good excuse to do something small with your fandom friends.
A few ideas: a listening night built around V's music, from Winter Bear to his album Layover; a purple dress code for a coffee or a cinema trip; a handwritten card for the friend who introduced you to BTS, signed only with Borahae. If you want to wear the word on the day, plan ahead: anything we embroider is ready in about 7 days from payment, plus courier time, so ordering by the end of October is the safe bet.
Wearing it: pieces for V and for all seven
At Mima&Lulù⁷ we are two ARMY in Rome with an embroidery machine, and every design starts from BTS music, lyrics and moments. Our pieces are fanmade, inspired by BTS and not affiliated with BTS, HYBE or BigHit Music. Shipping is free in Italy over 89 € and across the European Union over 119 €; we also ship worldwide, with the courier and price chosen at checkout.
- THV - Kim Taehyung oversize sweatshirt or t-shirt, from 34,90 €: V's initials with embroidered cuffs, sizes S to 2XL.
- Layover oversize sweatshirt or t-shirt, from 34,90 €: inspired by V's solo album, sweatshirt in 50% cotton and 50% polyester, t-shirt in 100% cotton.
- OT7 portraits oversize sweatshirt or t-shirt, from 36,90 €: all seven together, for when your Borahae goes to the whole group.
The pieces in this article
FAQ
What does Borahae mean in English?
It means "I purple you". It combines bora, purple, and saranghae, I love you, and stands for a love that lasts a long time.
Who said Borahae first?
V of BTS, Kim Taehyung, at a fan meeting on 13 November 2016.
How do you reply to Borahae?
Usually with Borahae back, or "I purple you too". Both are friendly and correct.
Why is purple the colour of BTS and ARMY?
Because V explained that purple is the last colour of the rainbow, so it means loving and trusting each other for a long time. After Borahae, purple became the fandom's colour.
How do you write Borahae in Korean?
보라해. It is pronounced roughly "bo-ra-heh".