Learn Korean Family Vocabulary 🇰🇷
Family words are some of the most useful words to learn when you start studying Korean.
But Korean family vocabulary can be a little different from English. For example, Korean has different words for “older brother” and “older sister” depending on whether the speaker is male or female.
In this lesson, you’ll learn 22 useful Korean family words, including 엄마, 아빠, 오빠, 형, 언니, 누나, 남동생, and 여동생.
You can also listen to the Korean pronunciation and practice each word aloud.
Table of Contents
Watch the Korean Family Words Video
Watch the short video first, then use the vocabulary list below to review each word.
22 Essential Korean Family Words
1. 가족
🔊 Listen: 가족
gajok
family
가족 means “family” in Korean.
Example:
우리 가족은 다섯 명이에요.
There are five people in my family.
2. 부모님
🔊 Listen: 부모님
bumonim
parents
부모 means “parents,” while 부모님 is the more respectful and commonly used form.
Example:
부모님과 같이 살아요.
I live with my parents.
3. 엄마
🔊 Listen: 엄마
eomma
mom
엄마 is the everyday Korean word for “mom.”
Example:
엄마, 사랑해요.
Mom, I love you.
4. 아빠
🔊 Listen: 아빠
appa
dad
아빠 is the casual and affectionate word for “dad.”
Example:
아빠는 지금 집에 있어요.
Dad is at home now.
5. 어머니
🔊 Listen: 어머니
eomeoni
mother
어머니 is more formal and respectful than 엄마.
Example:
어머니께 전화했어요.
I called my mother.
6. 아버지
🔊 Listen: 아버지
abeoji
father
아버지 is the more formal or respectful way to say “father.”
Example:
아버지는 회사에 가셨어요.
My father went to work.
Older Brothers and Sisters in Korean
This is one of the most important parts of Korean family vocabulary.
English simply uses “older brother” and “older sister,” but Korean changes the word depending on the gender of the speaker.
7. 형
🔊 Listen: 형
hyeong
older brother — used by males
A male speaker calls his older brother 형.
Example:
형이 한 명 있어요.
I have one older brother.
8. 오빠
🔊 Listen: 오빠
oppa
older brother — used by females
A female speaker calls her older brother 오빠.
오빠 can also sometimes be used by women when speaking to an older male they are close to.
Example:
오빠, 어디 가?
Oppa, where are you going?
9. 누나
🔊 Listen: 누나
nuna
older sister — used by males
A male speaker calls his older sister 누나.
Example:
우리 누나는 선생님이에요.
My older sister is a teacher.
10. 언니
🔊 Listen: 언니
eonni
older sister — used by females
A female speaker calls her older sister 언니.
Women also sometimes use 언니 for an older female friend they are close to.
Example:
언니랑 쇼핑했어요.
I went shopping with my older sister.
Younger Siblings in Korean
Unlike older siblings, the words for younger siblings do not change depending on the speaker’s gender.
11. 남동생
🔊 Listen: 남동생
namdongsaeng
younger brother
남 means “male,” and 동생 means “younger sibling.”
Example:
남동생이 있어요.
I have a younger brother.
12. 여동생
🔊 Listen: 여동생
yeodongsaeng
younger sister
여 refers to female, so 여동생 means “younger sister.”
Example:
여동생은 학생이에요.
My younger sister is a student.
Grandparents in Korean
13. 할아버지
🔊 Listen: 할아버지
harabeoji
grandfather
Example:
할아버지를 만나러 가요.
I’m going to see my grandfather.
14. 할머니
🔊 Listen: 할머니
halmeoni
grandmother
Example:
할머니 음식이 정말 맛있어요.
My grandmother’s food is really delicious.
Marriage and Family Words
15. 결혼
🔊 Listen: 결혼
gyeolhon
marriage
결혼 means “marriage.” The verb 결혼하다 means “to get married.”
Example:
내년에 결혼해요.
I’m getting married next year.
16. 부부
🔊 Listen: 부부
bubu
married couple
부부 refers to a husband and wife as a married couple.
Example:
두 사람은 부부예요.
The two people are married.
17. 남편
🔊 Listen: 남편
nampyeon
husband
Example:
제 남편은 한국 사람이에요.
My husband is Korean.
18. 아내
🔊 Listen: 아내
anae
wife
Example:
제 아내는 요리를 좋아해요.
My wife likes cooking.
Children in Korean
19. 아기
🔊 Listen: 아기
agi
baby
아기 is the common Korean word for a baby.
Example:
아기가 정말 귀여워요.
The baby is really cute.
20. 아들
🔊 Listen: 아들
adeul
son
Example:
아들이 한 명 있어요.
I have one son.
21. 딸
🔊 Listen: 딸
ttal
daughter
Be careful with the pronunciation. The ㄸ sound is a tense Korean consonant.
Example:
딸이 두 명 있어요.
I have two daughters.
22. 형제자매
🔊 Listen: 형제자매
hyeongje jamae
siblings
형제자매 is a general word meaning brothers and sisters or siblings.
In everyday conversation, Koreans may also simply say 형제 when talking generally about siblings.
Example:
형제자매가 몇 명이에요?
How many siblings do you have?
Why Are 형, 오빠, 누나, and 언니 Different?
This is one of the most interesting parts of Korean.
If you are male:
- older brother → 형
- older sister → 누나
If you are female:
- older brother → 오빠
- older sister → 언니
So before choosing the Korean word, you need to think about who is speaking.
For younger siblings, it is much simpler:
- younger brother → 남동생
- younger sister → 여동생
엄마 vs 어머니 and 아빠 vs 아버지
You may hear both versions in Korea.
엄마 / 아빠 are warm, casual, everyday words similar to “mom” and “dad.”
어머니 / 아버지 sound more formal and respectful and are closer to “mother” and “father.”
Korean learners should know both because you will hear all four very often in real conversations, TV shows, movies, and Korean dramas.
Korean Family Vocabulary Summary
| No. | Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 가족 | gajok | family |
| 2 | 부모님 | bumonim | parents |
| 3 | 엄마 | eomma | mom |
| 4 | 아빠 | appa | dad |
| 5 | 어머니 | eomeoni | mother |
| 6 | 아버지 | abeoji | father |
| 7 | 형 | hyeong | older brother for males |
| 8 | 오빠 | oppa | older brother for females |
| 9 | 누나 | nuna | older sister for males |
| 10 | 언니 | eonni | older sister for females |
| 11 | 남동생 | namdongsaeng | younger brother |
| 12 | 여동생 | yeodongsaeng | younger sister |
| 13 | 할아버지 | harabeoji | grandfather |
| 14 | 할머니 | halmeoni | grandmother |
| 15 | 결혼 | gyeolhon | marriage |
| 16 | 부부 | bubu | married couple |
| 17 | 남편 | nampyeon | husband |
| 18 | 아내 | anae | wife |
| 19 | 아기 | agi | baby |
| 20 | 아들 | adeul | son |
| 21 | 딸 | ttal | daughter |
| 22 | 형제자매 | hyeongje jamae | siblings |
Practice Korean Family Words
Try answering these questions in Korean:
가족이 몇 명이에요?
How many people are in your family?
형제자매가 있어요?
Do you have any siblings?
남동생이 있어요?
Do you have a younger brother?
여동생이 있어요?
Do you have a younger sister?
Learning words that you can immediately use to talk about your own life is one of the easiest ways to remember Korean vocabulary.
Want to learn Korean through real-life situations? Study useful vocabulary and expressions while exploring Korea with our Korean travel vlog lessons.👇
Keep Learning Korean with HYUZ Korean
Now you know 22 essential Korean family vocabulary words, from 엄마 and 아빠 to 오빠, 형, 언니, 누나, 남동생, and 여동생.
Watch the video again and try saying each Korean word out loud before looking at the answer.
The more you listen, repeat, and use Korean in real situations, the easier these words will become.
How do you say these family words in your language?
Let us know in the comments!
