2 · 40 words

The wider family and the people around you

Husbands and wives, grandparents and cousins, neighbours, seniors and juniors.

Korean names relatives far more exactly than English: an aunt is 이모 on the mother's side and 고모 on the father's, and the mother's parents get 외 in front, 외할머니. Outside the family, age and seniority shape every relationship — 선배 and 후배 are words Koreans use at school and at work every day, and English has no equivalent. Strangers are addressed by role rather than by name: 아저씨, 아주머니.

The words

Noun (40)

가족familyNoun1

주말에 가족하고 공원에 갔어요.I went to the park with my family at the weekend.

부모님parentsNoun2

부모님은 부산에 사세요.My parents live in Busan.

The polite word, used even for your own parents; the plain 부모 sounds detached.

남편husbandNoun2

제 남편은 요리를 아주 잘해요.My husband is a very good cook.

아내wifeNoun2

아내가 오늘 늦게 와요.My wife is coming home late today.

In conversation many people say 와이프 or 집사람.

아들sonNoun1

아들이 올해 학교에 들어가요.My son starts school this year.

딸daughterNoun1

그분은 딸이 둘 있어요.She has two daughters.

할아버지grandfatherNoun1

할아버지는 매일 아침 산에 가세요.My grandfather goes up into the hills every morning.

Also a polite way to address any old man.

할머니grandmotherNoun1

할머니가 만든 김치가 제일 맛있어요.The kimchi my grandmother makes is the best.

Also a polite way to address any old woman.

외할아버지grandfather (mother's father)Noun2

외할아버지는 시골에 혼자 사세요.My mother's father lives alone in the countryside.

외할머니grandmother (mother's mother)Noun2

방학마다 외할머니 댁에 가요.Every holiday I go to my mother's mother's house.

손자grandson; grandchildNoun2

할머니는 손자 사진을 자주 보세요.Grandmother often looks at photos of her grandson.

손녀granddaughterNoun2

손녀가 그린 그림을 거실에 걸었어요.I hung the picture my granddaughter drew in the living room.

남동생younger brotherNoun1

남동생은 저보다 세 살 어려요.My younger brother is three years younger than me.

여동생younger sisterNoun1

여동생하고 같은 방을 써요.I share a room with my younger sister.

형제brothers; siblingsNoun2

형제가 어떻게 돼요?Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Strictly brothers; for siblings of both sexes the full form is 형제자매.

막내the youngest (of a family or group)Noun2

저는 우리 집 막내예요.I am the youngest in our family.

쌍둥이twinsNoun2

그 두 사람은 쌍둥이라서 얼굴이 똑같아요.The two of them are twins, so they look exactly alike.

외동only childNoun2

저는 형제가 없는 외동이에요.I am an only child with no brothers or sisters.

Also 외동딸 and 외아들.

자녀children (sons and daughters)Noun2

자녀가 몇 명이에요?How many children do you have?

More formal than 아이; used on forms and in polite questions.

부부married couple; husband and wifeNoun2

옆집 부부는 둘 다 선생님이에요.The couple next door are both teachers.

친척relativeNoun2

명절에는 친척들이 모두 모여요.At the holidays all our relatives get together.

삼촌uncle (father's brother)Noun2

삼촌이 생일 선물로 자전거를 사 주셨어요.My uncle bought me a bicycle for my birthday.

In practice the father's unmarried brother; once married he is 큰아버지 or 작은아버지.

큰아버지uncle (father's elder brother)Noun2

큰아버지 댁은 서울에 있어요.My father's elder brother lives in Seoul.

이모aunt (mother's sister)Noun2

이모는 엄마보다 두 살 많아요.My aunt is two years older than my mum.

Also a friendly way to call a woman who runs a small restaurant.

고모aunt (father's sister)Noun2

고모가 다음 달에 미국에서 오세요.My father's sister is coming from America next month.

사촌cousinNoun2

사촌하고 나이가 같아서 친해요.My cousin and I are the same age, so we are close.

조카nephew; nieceNoun2

조카가 벌써 걷기 시작했어요.My nephew has already started walking.

아기babyNoun1

아기가 지금 자고 있어요.The baby is sleeping now.

어린이childNoun2

이 공원은 어린이에게 무료예요.This park is free for children.

A slightly formal word, used on signs and tickets; in speech 아이.

청소년teenager; young personNoun2

이 영화는 청소년이 볼 수 없어요.Teenagers are not allowed to see this film.

어른adult; one's eldersNoun2

어른 앞에서는 존댓말을 써요.You use polite speech in front of your elders.

남자 친구boyfriendNoun2

남자 친구하고 영화를 보러 가요.I am going to see a film with my boyfriend.

A friend who is a man is usually 남자 사람 친구 or just 친구.

여자 친구girlfriendNoun2

여자 친구한테 꽃을 선물했어요.I gave my girlfriend flowers.

애인boyfriend or girlfriend; partnerNoun2

애인이 있어요?Are you seeing someone?

이웃neighbourNoun2

이웃에게 떡을 나눠 줬어요.I shared rice cakes with the neighbours.

The house or flat next door is 옆집.

선배senior (at school or work)Noun2

회사 선배가 점심을 사 줬어요.A senior colleague bought me lunch.

Anyone who started before you; often with 님: 선배님.

후배junior (at school or work)Noun2

후배한테 학교 근처 식당을 알려 줬어요.I told a junior student about a restaurant near the school.

동창schoolmate; old classmateNoun2

고등학교 동창을 지하철에서 만났어요.I ran into an old classmate from secondary school on the underground.

아저씨man (middle-aged); misterNoun1

아저씨, 이 버스 시청에 가요?Excuse me, does this bus go to City Hall?

Polite enough for a stranger, but never for your boss or a teacher.

아주머니woman (middle-aged); madamNoun2

가게 아주머니가 사과를 하나 더 주셨어요.The woman at the shop gave me one more apple.

In speech often 아줌마, which can sound too familiar to the person addressed.

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 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.