“Eleven” is a polished dance-pop track by the South Korean girl group IVE, released as the lead single from their debut single album of the same name on December 1, 2021 under Starship Entertainment. Written and composed by Peter Rycroft (Lostboy), Lauren Aquilina, Ryan S. Jhun, and Alawn, with additional lyrical contribution from Seo Ji-eum, the song blends sleek production with imagery that captures the sudden rush and colorful intensity of young romance. It highlights the members’ expressive vocals while framing their emotions in a dreamy, rhythmic pop soundscape. The track quickly achieved major commercial success in South Korea, peaking at No. 2 on both the Gaon Digital Chart and the K-pop Hot 100, and breaking into the top ten across several Asian markets including Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. It earned Platinum status for streaming in Korea and a Gold certification for physical sales in Japan, solidifying IVE as one of the strongest rookie debuts of the year. They promoted the song through multiple live stages on programs such as Inkigayo, Music Bank, and Show! Music Core, further boosting its visibility. Starship Entertainment had announced IVE’s debut on November 2, 2021—the company’s first girl group in five years since WJSN—and followed with a structured promotional rollout confirming their debut date. On November 22, the agency revealed that the group would debut with the single album Eleven and its title track, releasing a music video teaser shortly after. Both the full song and the music video officially dropped on December 1, marking a confident and highly impactful entry into the K-pop scene.

[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]

ttabunan naui nunbichi

my bored eyes

mupyojeonghaetdeon eolguri

my once expressionless face

neol bomyeo bitnago isseo

is shining as i look at you

neol dameun nundongjaneun odd

my eyes holding you feel odd

nae ane ppaekokhage pieonaneun blue

dense blue blooms inside me

naega jigeum neukkineun i gamjeongdeureun true

the feelings i have now are true

nae ipsureul ganjiropheun natseon geu ireum

the unfamiliar name that tickled my lips

nan mollasseo nae mami iri dachaerounji

i didn’t know my heart was this colorful

gin kkumeul kkuge hae i bangeun jageun heaven

you make me dream long dreams this room is a small heaven

chumeul chugon hae silkkeot eojireoul mankeum

i dance until i’m completely dizzy

oh my oh my god

han kan deo chaeugo isseo

i’m filling another space

jal bwa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

look closely 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

you make me feel like ELEVEN

tumyeonghan neowa naui sai

the clear space between you and me

gamanhi deuryeodaboda

as i quietly look in

illeongin mulgyeol sogeuro

into the wavering waves

deo ppajyeodeuneun geol

i fall even deeper

geunal hyanggirowoon boratbiche mood

that day’s fragrant purple mood

sel su eopsi banbokhaedo gibun joeun kkum

a dream that feels good no matter how many times it repeats

gamhui nuga ireoke nal seollege hal jul

who knew someone could make me flutter this much

nan mollasseo nae mami iri dachaerounji

i didn’t know my heart was this colorful

gin kkumeul kkuge hae i bangeun jageun heaven

you make me dream long dreams this room is a small heaven

chumeul chugon hae silkkeot eojireoul mankeum

i dance until i’m completely dizzy

oh my oh my god

han kan deo chaeugo isseo

i’m filling another space

jal bwa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

look closely 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

you make me feel like ELEVEN

nae ape inneun neoreul

you in front of me

geu nune bichin nareul (geu nune bichin nareul)

and me reflected in your eyes (and me reflected in your eyes)

aya aya aya (gamanhi barabwa)

aya aya aya (quietly look)

nae ape inneun neoreul

you in front of me

geu nune bichin nareul

and me reflected in your eyes

gamanhi barabwa

quietly look

don’t say now

seodulleo ojin ma

don’t rush to come

i sungani joa nan

i like this moment

micheo mollasseo nae mami iri dachaerounji

i never knew my heart was this colorful

gin kkumeul kkuge hae i bangeun jageun heaven

you make me dream long dreams this room is a small heaven

chumeul chugon hae silkkeot eojireoul mankeum

i dance until i’m completely dizzy

oh my oh my god

han kan deo chaeugo isseo

i’m filling another space

jal bwa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

look closely 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

you make me feel like ELEVEN

nae ape inneun neoreul

you in front of me

geu nune bichin nareul

and me reflected in your eyes

aya aya aya

nae ape inneun neoreul

you in front of me

geu nune bichin nareul

and me reflected in your eyes

saranghage dwaetgeodeun

because i fell in love

View Full Korean Lyrics

🗣️ Practice Korean Words

눈빛 (nunbit)

eye light

💡 Note: the look in someone’s eyes that reveals their true emotions

무표정 (mupyojeong)

expressionless face

💡 Note: a blank expression that hides what the heart is feeling

🎵 Song Meaning & Interpretation

"eleven" describes the dizzy feeling of first love from the perspective of a girl who suddenly realizes how colorful and alive her emotions have become because of one person. the room feels like a small heaven, time feels dreamy and stretched, and even her once bored eyes now shine when she looks at them. as she counts up to seven and says "you make me feel like eleven," she expresses that her heart is moving beyond ordinary scales, into a secret, almost magical level of happiness that only this new love can unlock.