Names for Family Members in Korean: Fun & Easy Game-Based Learning
Talking about family is one of the most popular topics of conversation in Korea. Therefore, in this article we will tell you about words in Korean for family members. We will also cover some basic phrases, and give related examples so that when you are in a Korean-speaking environment, you know what to say and answer your partner’s questions. Whether you’re traveling, chatting online, or practicing with friends, you’ll know exactly what to say in a Korean-speaking environment.
Names for Family Members in Korean
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 가족 (gajok) | Family | |
| 아버지 (abeoji) | Father | |
| 아빠 (appa) | Dad (informal) | |
| 어머니 (eomeoni) | Mother | |
| 엄마 (eomma) | Mom (informal) | |
| 부모님 (bumonim) | Parents | |
| 조부모님 (jobumonim) | Grandparents | |
| 할아버지 (harabeoji) | Grandfather | |
| 할머니 (halmeoni) | Grandmother | |
| 형 (hyeong) | Older brother (boy’s POV) | |
| 오빠 (oppa) | Older brother (girl’s POV) | |
| 누나 (nuna) | Older sister (boy’s POV) | |
| 언니 (eonni) | Older sister (girl’s POV) | |
| 동생 (dongsaeng) | Younger sibling (any gender) | |
| 남동생 (namdongsaeng) | Younger brother | |
| 여동생 (yeodongsaeng) | Younger sister | |
| 형제 (hyeongje) | Brothers | |
| 자매 (jamae) | Sisters |
“Family” in Korean: 가족 (gajok)
The word gajok (가족) means “family.” It’s super useful in everyday conversations especially if you’re sharing stories or talking about your home life.
💡 Fun tip: In Korean, people often use 우리 (uri) instead of “my” when talking about their family. Even though 우리 technically means “our,” Koreans say “our mom” or “our family” even when they’re clearly talking about their own.
So, instead of:
- 제 가족 (je gajok) → “my family” (formal)
You’ll usually hear:
- 우리 가족 (uri gajok) → “my family” (natural & common)
Sample Sentences You Can Use
Try saying these out loud they’re beginner-friendly and super practical:
1. 우리는 가족끼리 여행 중이에요.
(urineun gajokkkiri yeohaeng jungieyo)
We’re on a family trip right now.
2. 저 가족들이랑 경주에 다녀왔어요.
(jeo gajokdeurang gyeongjue danyeowasseoyo)
I went to Gyeongju with my family.
3. 그 파티에 가족도 초대할 거야?
(geu patie gajokdo chodaehal geoya?)
Are you inviting your family to that party?
“Sister” in Korean What You Need to Know
In Korean, there’s no single word for “sister” like in English. The word you use depends on your gender and whether your sister is older or younger. Korean is all about showing respect and understanding relationships especially family ones.
Older Sister in Korean
There are two different words for “older sister,” depending on who’s speaking:
| Speaker | Word for Older Sister | Korean (Romanization) |
|---|---|---|
| A girl | 언니 | 언니 (eonni) |
| A boy | 누나 | 누나 (nuna) |
So if you’re a girl, you call your big sister 언니 (eonni).
If you’re a boy, you say 누나 (nuna).
These words aren’t just for your real sister you can also use them with older female friends you feel close to, kind of like saying “sis” in English. That’s why you’ll hear K-pop idols or drama characters using “언니” or “누나” even when they’re not actually related.
Younger Sister in Korean
The word for “younger sister” is simple and gender-neutral:
- 여동생 (yeodongsaeng) = younger sister (any gender can use this)
But in real life, most Koreans just say 동생 (dongsaeng), which means “younger sibling” it works for both brothers and sisters. You’ll usually only add 여 (yeo) for “female” or 남 (nam) for “male” if you want to be extra clear.
“Brother” in Korean What to Say & When to Use It
Just like with the word “sister,” Korean has different words for “brother” depending on who’s speaking and whether the brother is older or younger. Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to remember and actually useful in real life.
Older Brother in Korean
In Korean, you don’t just say “brother” you say it based on your own gender:
| Speaker | Word for Older Brother | Korean (Romanization) |
|---|---|---|
| A boy | 형 | 형 (hyeong) |
| A girl | 오빠 | 오빠 (oppa) |
- If you’re a boy, you call your older brother 형 (hyeong).
- If you’re a girl, you call your older brother 오빠 (oppa).
These aren’t just family terms they’re also used with close older male friends, and yes, they’re all over K-dramas and K-pop lyrics.
When someone says “오빠~” in a romantic scene… now you know why 😏
Example Sentences
🛋 형은 소파에 잠깐 누웠어요.
(hyeongeun sopae jamkkan nuwosseoyo)
My brother lay down on the sofa for a bit.
(spoken by a boy)
🎓 우리 오빠는 대학생이에요.
(uri oppaneun daehaksaengieyo)
My brother is a college student.
(spoken by a girl)
Younger Brother in Korean
Younger siblings are easier same word for both genders:
- 남동생 (namdongsaeng) = younger brother
(남 = male, 동생 = younger sibling)
If you’re just talking casually and the gender doesn’t matter, you can say 동생 (dongsaeng) it means “younger sibling” in general.
General Word for “Brothers”
If you want to say “brothers” in general (plural), or refer to a pair of brothers, you can use:
- 형제 (hyeongje) = brothers or male siblings
Example: 형제끼리 축구했어요.
(hyeongjekkiri chukguhaesseoyo)
The brothers played soccer together.
Parents in Korean
Koreans show respect a lot especially to parents. That’s why there are two ways to say “parents”:
| Term | Korean | Romanization | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parents | 부모 | bumo | Simple & neutral word |
| Parents | 부모님 | bumonim | Polite (with honorific 님) |
So when you’re speaking to or about your parents, especially with others, use 부모님 (bumonim) to sound more respectful.
“Father” in Korean
There are two main ways to say “father,” just like in English:
| English | Korean | Romanization | Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father | 아버지 | abeoji | Formal/polite |
| Dad | 아빠 | appa | Casual/friendly |
Example:
아버지는 회사에 계세요.
(abeojineun hoesa-e gyeseyo)
My father is at work.
“Mother” in Korean
Same goes for “mother” two main words based on tone:
| English | Korean | Romanization | Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother | 어머니 | eomeoni | Formal/polite |
| Mom | 엄마 | eomma | Casual/friendly |
Example:
엄마랑 같이 요리했어요.
(eommareung gachi yorihaesseoyo)
I cooked together with my mom.
Quick Recap Table
| English | Korean | Romanization | Who Uses It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Older brother | 형 | hyeong | Said by boys |
| Older brother | 오빠 | oppa | Said by girls |
| Younger brother | 남동생 | namdongsaeng | Anyone |
| Brothers (general) | 형제 | hyeongje | Anyone |
| Father | 아버지 / 아빠 | abeoji / appa | Formal / Casual |
| Mother | 어머니 / 엄마 | eomeoni / eomma | Formal / Casual |
| Parents | 부모 / 부모님 | bumo / bumonim | Neutral / Respectful |
Korean Family Vocabulary Extended & Detailed Guide
Understanding Korean family terms can be tricky there are different words depending on sides of the family, age, marriage status, and gender. But don’t worry! This guide breaks it down into sections, so you can learn step by step.
Father’s Side of the Family (친가 · chinga)
This section might feel a bit more challenging because it introduces several new and formal terms especially if you’re only familiar with everyday Korean. But if you’re watching family-centered K-dramas or visiting a Korean household, many of these words might pop up more than you’d expect!
These terms are used when talking about family members on your father’s side. Since traditional Korean society places a strong emphasis on the paternal line, these words are quite specific and commonly used during family gatherings or when introducing relatives.
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 친가 (chinga) | Father’s side of the family | |
| 친할아버지 (chinharabeoji) | Paternal grandfather | |
| 친할머니 (chinhalmeoni) | Paternal grandmother | |
| 큰아빠 (keunappa), 백부 (baekbu) | Father’s older brother | |
| 큰엄마 (keuneomma), 백모 (baengmo) | His wife (older uncle’s wife) | |
| 작은아빠 (jageunappa), 숙부 (sukbu) | Father’s younger brother | |
| 작은엄마 (jageuneomma) | His wife (younger uncle’s wife) | |
| 삼촌 (samchon) | Father’s unmarried brother | |
| 고모 (gomo) | Father’s sister | |
| 고모부 (gomobu) | Her husband |
Mother’s Side of the Family (외가 · oega)
While traditional Korean families tend to focus more on the father’s side, the maternal side is just as close emotionally. These words are especially helpful when talking about your mom’s siblings or visiting your grandparents on her side.
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 외가 (oega) | Mother’s side of the family | |
| 외할아버지 (oeharabeoji) | Maternal grandfather | |
| 외할머니 (oehalmeoni) | Maternal grandmother | |
| 외숙부 (oesukbu) | Mother’s brother | |
| 외숙모 (oesungmo) | His wife | |
| 이모 (imo) | Mother’s sister | |
| 이모부 (imobu) | Her husband |
Marriage-Related Terms (Spouses & In-laws)
Unless you’re planning to marry a Korean or often talk with someone who is, this section might not feel immediately useful. But if you’re dating, engaged to, or close friends with someone who married into a Korean family, these words will matter more than you think. In Korean culture, family roles and titles are taken seriously and the vocabulary reflects that. Some terms even change depending on who’s speaking and how the person is related. Don’t worry we’ll point out those differences clearly as we go.
Spouses
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 남편 (nampyeon) | Husband | |
| 부인 (buin) | Wife | |
| 사돈 (sadon) | In-laws (general term) |
Parents-in-law
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 아버님 (abeonim), 시아버지 (siabeoji) | Husband’s father | |
| 장인 (jangin) | Wife’s father | |
| 어머님 (eomeonim), 시어머니 (sieomeoni) | Husband’s mother | |
| 장모님 (jangmonim) | Wife’s mother |
Brothers-in-law
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 아주버님 (ajubeonim), 형님 (hyeongnim) | Husband’s older brother | |
| 시동생 (sidongsaeng) | Husband’s younger brother | |
| 서방님 (seobangnim) | Husband’s younger brother (married, direct) | |
| 도련님 (doreyonnim) | Husband’s younger brother (unmarried, direct) | |
| 형님 (hyeongnim) | Wife’s older brother | |
| 처남 (cheonam) | Wife’s younger brother | |
| 아주머님 (ajumeonim) | His wife (older) | |
| 처남댁 (cheonamdaek) | His wife (younger) |
Sisters-in-law
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 형님 (hyeongnim), 언니 (eonni) | Husband’s older sister | |
| 동서 (dongseo), 아가씨 (agassi) | Husband’s younger sister | |
| 처형 (cheohyeong), 형님 (hyeongnim) | Wife’s older sister | |
| 처제 (cheoje) | Wife’s younger sister | |
| 서방님 (seobangnim) / 동서 (dongseo) | Her husband (both older/younger) | |
| 형님 (hyeongnim) | Wife’s older sister’s husband |
Alternate Husband/Wife Terms in Speech
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 주인 (juin), 바깥양반 (bakkatyangban) | Husband (to others) | |
| 애비 (aebi) | Husband (to elders with children) | |
| 아내 (anae) | Wife (to others, non-family) | |
| 안사람 (ansaram) | Wife (to others, casual/traditional) | |
| 에미 (emi) | Wife (to elders with children) |
Sibling’s Spouses (From Your POV)
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 형수님 (hyeongsunim) | Man’s older brother’s wife | |
| 제수 (jesu) | Man’s younger brother’s wife | |
| 매형 (maehyeong) | Man’s older sister’s husband | |
| 매제 (maeje) | Man’s younger sister’s husband | |
| 새언니 (saeeonni) | Woman’s older brother’s wife | |
| 올케 (olke) | Woman’s younger brother’s wife | |
| 형부 (hyeongbu) | Woman’s older sister’s husband | |
| 제부 (jebu) | Woman’s younger sister’s husband |
Other Important Family Terms
| in Korean | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| 친척 (chincheok) | Relatives | |
| 친정 (chinjeong) | A married woman’s family (her origin) | |
| 시집 (sijip) | A married woman’s husband’s family | |
| 아이 (ai) | Child / Children | |
| 아들 (adeul) | Son | |
| 딸 (ttal) | Daughter | |
| 사촌 (sachon) | Cousin | |
| 삼촌 (samchon) | Uncle | |
| 숙모 (sungmo) | Aunt | |
| 조카 (joka) | Nephew | |
| 조카딸 (jokattal) | Niece | |
| 손주 (sonju) | Grandchildren | |
| 손자 (sonja) | Grandson | |
| 손녀 (sonnyeo) | Granddaughter |
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