1 · 38 words

People and family

Your family, the people around you, and the words for saying who you are and where you are from.

Korean has no single word for “brother” or “sister”: it asks whether the sibling is older or younger, and who is speaking. A man calls his older brother 형 and his older sister 누나; a woman calls them 오빠 and 언니; anyone younger is 동생. These words are also how people address each other, because Koreans rarely use a name or “you” with someone older.

The words

Noun (36)

아버지fatherNoun1

아버지는 은행에서 일하세요.My father works at a bank.

어머니motherNoun1

어머니는 요리를 정말 잘하세요.My mother is a really good cook.

아빠dadNoun1

아빠, 이거 같이 봐요.Dad, let's watch this together.

What children call their father, and many adults too.

엄마mumNoun1

엄마가 김치를 보내 주셨어요.Mum sent me some kimchi.

형older brother (of a man)Noun1

형은 저보다 세 살 많아요.My older brother is three years older than me.

Also what a man calls an older male friend.

오빠older brother (of a woman)Noun1

오빠는 지금 서울에 살아요.My older brother lives in Seoul now.

Also what a woman calls an older male friend or her boyfriend.

누나older sister (of a man)Noun1

누나가 생일 선물을 사 줬어요.My older sister bought me a birthday present.

언니older sister (of a woman)Noun1

언니는 키가 커요.My older sister is tall.

Also what a woman calls an older female friend.

동생younger brother or sisterNoun1

동생은 고등학생이에요.My younger sibling is at secondary school.

사람person; peopleNoun1

저 사람은 누구예요?Who is that person?

친구friendNoun1

친구하고 같이 밥을 먹었어요.I had a meal with a friend.

In Korean usually someone of your own age; an older friend is 형, 언니 and so on.

아이childNoun1

그 집에는 아이가 셋 있어요.They have three children.

애kid (colloquial)Noun1

애들이 밖에서 놀아요.The kids are playing outside.

남자man; maleNoun1

저 남자는 제 친구예요.That man is my friend.

여자woman; femaleNoun1

여자 화장실은 왼쪽에 있어요.The women's toilets are on the left.

남자아이boyNoun1

남자아이 두 명이 공을 차요.Two boys are kicking a ball.

여자아이girlNoun1

여자아이가 노래를 불러요.A girl is singing.

이름nameNoun1

이름이 뭐예요?What is your name?

Politely: 성함이 어떻게 되세요?.

성family name, surnameNoun1

제 성은 박이에요.My surname is Park.

In Korean the family name comes first: 박지수 is Park Jisu.

나이ageNoun1

나이가 어떻게 되세요?May I ask how old you are?

Age matters in Korea: it decides how two people speak to each other.

자기소개self-introductionNoun1

먼저 자기소개를 해 주세요.Please introduce yourself first.

나라countryNoun1

어느 나라에서 왔어요?Which country are you from?

외국foreign country; abroadNoun1

저는 외국에서 왔어요.I come from abroad.

외국인foreignerNoun1

이 식당에는 외국인 손님이 많아요.This restaurant has a lot of foreign customers.

한국KoreaNoun1

한국에 처음 왔어요.This is my first time in Korea.

미국the United StatesNoun1

제 친구는 미국 사람이에요.My friend is American.

영국the United Kingdom, BritainNoun1

저는 영국 런던에서 왔어요.I come from London in Britain.

호주AustraliaNoun1

호주는 지금 여름이에요.It is summer in Australia now.

캐나다CanadaNoun1

캐나다는 겨울이 길어요.Winter in Canada is long.

중국ChinaNoun1

중국 음식을 좋아해요.I like Chinese food.

일본JapanNoun1

일본에 친구가 살아요.I have a friend who lives in Japan.

독일GermanyNoun1

독일에서 온 친구가 있어요.I have a friend from Germany.

프랑스FranceNoun1

프랑스 빵은 정말 맛있어요.French bread is really good.

한국인Korean (person)Noun1

제 남편은 한국인이에요.My husband is Korean.

A little more formal than 한국 사람; the same -인 gives 미국인, 영국인.

아줌마middle-aged woman; auntieNoun1

옆집 아줌마가 떡을 주셨어요.The lady next door gave us some rice cakes.

Casual; as a form of address it can sound rude, and 사장님 or 이모 is kinder in a restaurant.

결혼marriageNoun1

결혼은 아직 안 했어요.I am not married yet.

Adverb (1)

혼자alone; on one's ownAdverb1

저는 혼자 살아요.I live on my own.

Suffix (1)

씨Mr, Ms (after a name)Suffix1

민수 씨, 내일 시간 있어요?Minsu, are you free tomorrow?

After the full name or the given name; after the surname alone it sounds condescending. Never about yourself or to someone senior.

This list belongs to People, family and feelings — twelve lists and 477 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 38 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.