Welcome to one of the most important and complex parts of Korean culture: family terms (가족 호칭). How you address someone in Korean reveals your relationship, gender, and age, all in one word!
Unlike English, you don’t just say “brother” or “aunt.” The term you use depends on your own gender, whether they are on your father’s side or mother’s side, and whether you are married.
This guide will break it all down, from your immediate family to the terms you’ll use in everyday life for friends and even strangers.
1. Your Immediate Family (가족 – Gajok)
Let’s start with the basics. These are the core terms for your household.
Parents (부모님 – Bumonim)
부모님 (Bumonim) is the respectful term for “parents.”
- 아버지 (Abeoji): Father (Formal)
- 아빠 (Appa): Dad (Informal, commonly used by all ages)
- 어머니 (Eomeoni): Mother (Formal)
- 엄마 (Eomma): Mom (Informal, commonly used by all ages)
Siblings (형제자매 – Hyeongjejame)
This is the most important rule for beginners: The terms for your older siblings depend on your gender. The terms for younger siblings are neutral.
If YOU are MALE:
- Older Brother: 형 (Hyeong)
- Older Sister: 누나 (Nuna)
If YOU are FEMALE:
- Older Brother: 오빠 (Oppa)
- Older Sister: 언니 (Eonni)
Younger Siblings (Same for all genders):
- Younger Sibling (neutral): 동생 (Dongsaeng)
- Younger Brother: 남동생 (Namdongsaeng)
- Younger Sister: 여동생 (Yeodongsaeng)
2. Your Extended Family (친척 – Chincheok)
Korean culture traditionally distinguishes between the paternal (father’s) and maternal (mother’s) sides of the family.
Paternal Side (Father’s Family – 친가)
- Grandfather (father’s father): 할아버지 (Harabeoji)
- Grandmother (father’s mother): 할머니 (Halmeoni)
- Uncle (father’s brother): 삼촌 (Samchon)
- Aunt (father’s sister): 고모 (Gomo)
Maternal Side (Mother’s Family – 외가)
This side is easy! You just add the prefix 외 (Oe-), which means “outer” or “maternal.”
- Maternal Grandfather: 외할아버지 (Oe-harabeoji)
- Maternal Grandmother: 외할머니 (Oe-halmeoni)
- Maternal Uncle (mother’s brother): 외삼촌 (Oe-samchon)
- Maternal Aunt (mother’s sister): 이모 (Imo)
3. Family Terms After Marriage (In-Laws)
This is the most complex part of Korean family terms. The terms are completely different depending on whether you are the husband or the wife. Here are the most essential ones.
If You Are the HUSBAND (Calling your Wife’s Family)
- Wife’s Father: 장인어른 (Jang-in-eoreun)
- Wife’s Mother: 장모님 (Jangmonim)
- Wife’s Older Brother: 형님 (Hyeongnim) (Yes, same as “older brother” for a man!)
- Wife’s Younger Brother: 처남 (Cheonam)
- Wife’s Older Sister: 처형 (Cheohyeong)
- Wife’s Younger Sister: 처제 (Cheoje)
If You Are the WIFE (Calling your Husband’s Family)
Note the prefix 시 (Si-), which indicates the husband’s family.
- Husband’s Father: 시아버지 (Si-abeoji)
- Husband’s Mother: 시어머니 (Si-eomeoni)
- Husband’s Older Brother: 아주버님 (Ajubeonim)
- Husband’s Older Brother’s Wife: 형님 (Hyeongnim) (Yes, you call his sister-in-law “older brother”!)
- Husband’s Older Sister: 형님 (Hyeongnim)
- Husband’s Younger Brother: 도련님 (Doryeonnim) (if unmarried) / 서방님 (Seobangnim) (if married)
- Husband’s Younger Sister: 아가씨 (Agassi)
4. Key Rules & Cultural Use (The “Social Family”)
In Korea, family terms are used for many people outside your actual family. This shows closeness and respect within society.
Rule 1: Using Honorifics (-님)
Adding -님 (nim) makes a term more formal and respectful. You use it for your in-laws or when respectfully referring to someone else’s family.
- My Father: 아버지 (Abeoji)
- My Father-in-law: 아버님 (Abeonim)
- My Friend’s Father: 아버님 (Abeonim)
- My Older Brother: 형 (Hyeong)
- My Older Brother (respectfully) / My Brother-in-law: 형님 (Hyeongnim)
Rule 2: The “Social Family” – Using Terms for Friends
You must use these terms for older friends or senior students you are close with. Calling them by their name is considered rude.
- A female calls a slighter older female friend: 언니 (Eonni)
- A female calls a slighter older male friend: 오빠 (Oppa)
- A male calls a slighter older female friend: 누나 (Nuna)
- A male calls a slighter older male friend: 형 (Hyeong)
Rule 3: Using Terms for Strangers
Family terms are also used to politely address strangers, based on their approximate age.
- Elderly Man: 할아버지 (Harabeoji)
- Elderly Woman: 할머니 (Halmeoni)
- Middle-aged Man (married): 아저씨 (Ajeossi)
- Middle-aged Woman (married): 아줌마 (Ajumma)
- Restaurant/Shop Staff (as a term of endearment): 이모 (Imo) (“Auntie”) or 삼촌 (Samchon) (“Uncle”)
