Korean Vocabulary #4 – Family Words: Essential Korean for Talking About Family

1️⃣ Introduction

Learn 15 essential Korean family words

These are the words you’ll use when introducing your family or talking about loved ones.

You’ll hear them every day in Korean conversations!

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2️⃣ Vocabulary List

#	Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
1	가족	ga-jok	family
2	저 / 나	jeo / na	I / me (polite / casual)
3	부모님	bu-mo-nim	parents
4	어머니	eo-meo-ni	mother (formal)
5	엄마	eom-ma	mom (casual)
6	아버지	a-beo-ji	father (formal)
7	아빠	a-ppa	dad (casual)
8	형	hyeong	older brother (for male)
9	오빠	o-ppa	older brother (for female)
10	누나	nu-na	older sister (for male)
11	언니	eon-ni	older sister (for female)
12	동생	dong-saeng	younger sibling
13	할머니	hal-meo-ni	grandmother
14	할아버지	ha-ra-beo-ji	grandfather
15	아이	a-i	child

Example Sentences

1️⃣ 제 가족은 네 명이에요.

(je ga-jok-eun ne myeong-i-e-yo.) 

→ There are four people in my family.

2️⃣ 저희 부모님은 서울에 계세요.

(jeo-hui bu-mo-nim-eun seo-u-re gye-se-yo.) 

→ My parents live in Seoul.

3️⃣ 어머니는 선생님이에요.

(eo-meo-ni-neun seon-saeng-nim-i-e-yo.) 

→ My mother is a teacher.

4️⃣ 아버지는 회사원이세요.

(a-beo-ji-neun hoe-sa-won-i-se-yo.) 

→ My father is an office worker.

5️⃣ 저는 언니가 두 명 있어요.

(jeo-neun eon-ni-ga du myeong i-sseo-yo.) 

→ I have two older sisters.

6️⃣ 남동생은 아직 학생이에요.

(nam-dong-saeng-eun a-jik hak-saeng-i-e-yo.)

 → My younger brother is still a student.

7️⃣ 할머니는 시골에 사세요.

(hal-meo-ni-neun si-gol-e sa-se-yo.) 

→ My grandmother lives in the countryside.

8️⃣ 할아버지랑 자주 통화해요.

(ha-ra-beo-ji-rang ja-ju tong-hwa-hae-yo.) 

→ I often talk with my grandfather on the phone.

9️⃣ 저는 아이가 없어요.

(jeo-neun a-i-ga eop-sseo-yo.) 

→ I don’t have children.

1️⃣0️⃣ 엄마랑 영화 봤어요.

(eom-ma-rang yeong-hwa bwa-sseo-yo.) 

→ I watched a movie with my mom.

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3️⃣ Expression Tips & Cultural Notes

• “저” vs “나”→ “저” is polite (to older people, teachers, strangers).→ “나” is casual (to friends or family).

  
  

• “부모님” is the respectful way to say parents (님 adds honorific tone).

  
  

• “어머니 / 아버지” are polite and formal.

  
  

• “엄마 / 아빠” are used with family or close people.

  
  

• “형 / 오빠 / 누나 / 언니” depend on your gender:

  • If you are male → 형, 누나

  • If you are female → 오빠, 언니

    
    

• “동생” is gender-neutral, but you can specify:

  • 남동생 = younger brother

  • 여동생 = younger sister

    
    

• Korean people often add “우리 (our)” before family words to sound natural.

  → e.g. “우리 엄마 (my mom), 우리 아빠 (my dad)”

  
  

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3️⃣ Mini Practice

Fill in the blanks.

1️⃣ 제 _______ 은(는) 선생님이에요. (mother)

2️⃣ _______ 은(는) 학생이에요. (younger brother)

3️⃣ _______ 은 어디에 살아요? (family)

4️⃣ _______ 는 회사원이세요. (father)

5️⃣ _______ 는 시골에 계세요. (grandmother)

6️⃣ 저는 _______ 가 두 명 있어요. (older sister, the speaker is female)

Answers

1️⃣ 어머니 → polite form of “mom.”

2️⃣ 동생 → general “younger sibling.”

3️⃣ 가족 -> family

4️⃣ 아버지 → polite form of “father”

5️⃣ 할머니 → polite form of "grandmother"

6️⃣ 언니 → “older sister” (used by females).

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📂 Download Practice File

📥 Download your “Family Vocabulary” Worksheet

Practice writing, pronunciation, and simple family sentences!

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