Korean vocabulary · 14 words

Korean family words

Korean family words carry information English leaves out. The word for an older brother or sister depends on whether the speaker is male or female, and younger siblings share one word, 동생. Korean also says 우리 (our) where English says my for family.

Examples are written in Hangul. New to it? Start with the hangul chart.

Good to know

  • A man calls his older brother 형 and his older sister 누나. A woman says 오빠 and 언니.
  • 동생 is a younger sibling of either gender.
  • 우리 엄마 (literally our mom) is how Koreans say my mom.

Parents and family

KoreanRomanizationMeaningAudio
가족gajokfamily
어머니eomeonimother
엄마eommamom
아빠appadad

Siblings

KoreanRomanizationMeaningAudio
형hyeongolder brother (male speaker)
오빠oppaolder brother (female speaker)
누나nunaolder sister (male speaker)
언니eonniolder sister (female speaker)
동생dongsaengyounger sibling

Spouse and children

KoreanRomanizationMeaningAudio
남편nampyeonhusband
아내anaewife
아들adeulson
딸ttaldaughter
아이aichild

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