Learning how to introduce your family is a fundamental part of sharing about yourself in Korean conversations. This guide provides the essential vocabulary and phrases needed to talk about your family members naturally and respectfully in Korean. You’ll learn key terms, useful sentence structures, and cultural insights for smooth communication.
Table Of Content
Core Word
This section introduces the fundamental Korean word for “family”.
- Expression: 가족
Pronunciation: ga-jok
Meaning: Family
Basic Family Member Terms
Here are the common terms used to refer to different family members in Korean. Note that terms can vary based on formality and relationship.
- Expression: 아버지
Pronunciation: a-beo-ji
Meaning: Father (formal) - Expression: 아빠
Pronunciation: a-ppa
Meaning: Dad (informal) - Expression: 어머니
Pronunciation: eo-meo-ni
Meaning: Mother (formal) - Expression: 엄마
Pronunciation: eom-ma
Meaning: Mom (informal) - Expression: 할아버지
Pronunciation: hal-a-beo-ji
Meaning: Grandfather - Expression: 할머니
Pronunciation: hal-meo-ni
Meaning: Grandmother - Expression: 형
Pronunciation: hyeong
Meaning: Older brother (used by males) - Expression: 오빠
Pronunciation: o-ppa
Meaning: Older brother (used by females) - Expression: 누나
Pronunciation: nu-na
Meaning: Older sister (used by males) - Expression: 언니
Pronunciation: eon-ni
Meaning: Older sister (used by females) - Expression: 남동생
Pronunciation: nam-dong-saeng
Meaning: Younger brother - Expression: 여동생
Pronunciation: yeo-dong-saeng
Meaning: Younger sister - Expression: 부모님
Pronunciation: bu-mo-nim
Meaning: Parents
Phrases for Introduction
Use these phrases to introduce your family members to others.
- Expression: 제 가족을 소개할게요.
Pronunciation: je ga-jok-eul so-gae-hal-kke-yo.
Meaning: Let me introduce my family. - Expression: 이분은 제 아버지입니다.
Pronunciation: i-bun-eun je a-beo-ji-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This person is my father. (Formal) - Expression: 이 사람은 제 엄마예요.
Pronunciation: i sa-ram-eun je eom-ma-ye-yo.
Meaning: This person is my mom. (Polite/Informal) - Expression: 저희 가족은 네 명이에요.
Pronunciation: jeo-hui ga-jok-eun ne myeong-i-e-yo.
Meaning: There are four people in my family. - Expression: 저는 형이 한 명 있어요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun hyeong-i han myeong iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I have one older brother. (Male speaker) - Expression: 저는 언니가 두 명 있어요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun eon-ni-ga du myeong iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I have two older sisters. (Female speaker) - Expression: 동생은 없어요.
Pronunciation: dong-saeng-eun eops-eo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t have any younger siblings. - Expression: 저희는 대가족이에요.
Pronunciation: jeo-hui-neun dae-ga-jok-i-e-yo.
Meaning: We are a large family / extended family. - Expression: 부모님과 같이 살아요.
Pronunciation: bu-mo-nim-gwa gat-i sal-a-yo.
Meaning: I live with my parents. - Expression: 제 동생 이름은 민지예요.
Pronunciation: je dong-saeng i-reum-eun min-ji-ye-yo.
Meaning: My younger sister’s name is Minji. - Expression: 우리 오빠는 대학생이에요.
Pronunciation: u-ri o-ppa-neun dae-hak-saeng-i-e-yo.
Meaning: My older brother is a university student. (Female speaker)
Describing Family Members
Learn how to provide more details about your family members, such as their age or occupation.
- Expression: 아버지는 회사원이세요.
Pronunciation: a-beo-ji-neun hoe-sa-won-i-se-yo.
Meaning: My father is an office worker. - Expression: 어머니는 주부이세요.
Pronunciation: eo-meo-ni-neun ju-bu-i-se-yo.
Meaning: My mother is a homemaker. - Expression: 제 형은 저보다 세 살 많아요.
Pronunciation: je hyeong-eun jeo-bo-da se sal man-a-yo.
Meaning: My older brother is three years older than me. (Male speaker) - Expression: 제 여동생은 고등학생이에요.
Pronunciation: je yeo-dong-saeng-eun go-deung-hak-saeng-i-e-yo.
Meaning: My younger sister is a high school student. - Expression: 할머니는 연세가 많으세요.
Pronunciation: hal-meo-ni-neun yeon-se-ga man-eu-se-yo.
Meaning: My grandmother is very old. (Polite way to say ‘age’) - Expression: 우리 언니는 성격이 좋아요.
Pronunciation: u-ri eon-ni-neun seong-gyeok-i jo-a-yo.
Meaning: My older sister has a good personality. (Female speaker) - Expression: 남동생은 아주 똑똑해요.
Pronunciation: nam-dong-saeng-eun a-ju ttok-ttok-hae-yo.
Meaning: My younger brother is very smart. - Expression: 부모님은 부산에 사세요.
Pronunciation: bu-mo-nim-eun bu-san-e sa-se-yo.
Meaning: My parents live in Busan. - Expression: 오빠는 키가 커요.
Pronunciation: o-ppa-neun ki-ga keo-yo.
Meaning: My older brother is tall. (Female speaker) - Expression: 누나는 음악을 좋아해요.
Pronunciation: nu-na-neun eum-ak-eul jo-a-hae-yo.
Meaning: My older sister likes music. (Male speaker) - Expression: 가족 모두 건강해요.
Pronunciation: ga-jok mo-du geon-gang-hae-yo.
Meaning: Everyone in my family is healthy.
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding these cultural points will help you talk about family more appropriately in Korean contexts.
- Age Hierarchy: Age is very important in Korean culture and language. Using correct honorifics and titles based on age and relationship (e.g., 형, 누나, 오빠, 언니) is crucial. Always speak respectfully to elders.
- Using “우리” (Uri – We/Our): Koreans often use “우리” (uri) meaning “our” even when referring to something that belongs to the speaker individually, especially family members (e.g., 우리 엄마 – uri eomma – “our mom” meaning “my mom”). This reflects a strong sense of collectivism.
- Asking About Family: While asking about family is common, asking very personal details (like parents’ occupations or financial status) upon first meeting can be considered intrusive. Stick to general questions initially.
- Terms of Address: The terms for older siblings (형, 누나, 오빠, 언니) are often used to address close older friends or acquaintances, not just actual siblings, indicating closeness and respect for age.
- Formal vs. Informal Terms: Be mindful of using formal terms like 아버지 (abeoji) and 어머니 (eomeoni) when speaking about your parents to others in formal settings, versus informal terms like 아빠 (appa) and 엄마 (eomma) used when talking directly to them or in very casual contexts.
Real Conversation Example
This example shows how someone might introduce their family in a casual conversation.
- Situation: Two friends, Minjun and Sora, are chatting. Minjun asks Sora about her family.
-
Roles:
- A: Minjun (Asking about family)
- B: Sora (Introducing her family)
-
Expression: A: 소라 씨, 가족이 어떻게 되세요?
Pronunciation: so-ra ssi, ga-jok-i eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo?
Meaning: Sora, how is your family structured? (Common way to ask about family size/members) - Expression: B: 저희 가족은 부모님하고 저, 그리고 남동생 한 명 있어요. 네 명이에요.
Pronunciation: jeo-hui ga-jok-eun bu-mo-nim-ha-go jeo, geu-ri-go nam-dong-saeng han myeong iss-eo-yo. ne myeong-i-e-yo.
Meaning: My family consists of my parents, me, and one younger brother. There are four of us. - Expression: A: 아, 남동생이 있으시군요. 몇 살이에요?
Pronunciation: a, nam-dong-saeng-i iss-eu-si-gun-yo. myeot sal-i-e-yo?
Meaning: Oh, so you have a younger brother. How old is he? - Expression: B: 제 동생은 지금 고등학생이에요. 열일곱 살이에요.
Pronunciation: je dong-saeng-eun ji-geum go-deung-hak-saeng-i-e-yo. yeol-il-gop sal-i-e-yo.
Meaning: My younger brother is a high school student now. He’s seventeen years old. - Expression: A: 그렇군요! 부모님은 무슨 일 하세요?
Pronunciation: geu-reo-kun-yo! bu-mo-nim-eun mu-seun il ha-se-yo?
Meaning: I see! What do your parents do? - Expression: B: 아버지는 회사에 다니시고, 어머니는 학교 선생님이세요.
Pronunciation: a-beo-ji-neun hoe-sa-e da-ni-si-go, eo-meo-ni-neun hak-gyo seon-saeng-nim-i-se-yo.
Meaning: My father works at a company, and my mother is a school teacher. - Expression: A: 와, 멋지시네요! 다음에 가족사진 있으면 보여주세요.
Pronunciation: wa, meot-jji-si-ne-yo! da-eum-e ga-jok-sa-jin iss-eu-myeon bo-yeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Wow, that’s wonderful! Show me a family picture next time if you have one. - Expression: B: 네, 좋아요! 그럴게요.
Pronunciation: ne, jo-a-yo! geu-reol-kke-yo.
Meaning: Yes, okay! I will do that.
Practice Tips
Now you have the tools to introduce your family in Korean~! Try describing your own family using these phrases. Practice saying the terms for different members out loud. You can even draw your family tree and label it in Korean! The more you practice, the more natural it will become. Fighting! (화이팅! hwaiting!)~
