How to Say "Mom" in Korean (with Pronunciation Tips)

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Learn all the ways to politely address your mother in Korean
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Whether you’re casually interested in the Korean language or are working your way up to fluency, “mother” is a basic word you’ll need to add to your vocabulary arsenal. In this article, we’ll teach you how to say “mother" in both formal and informal situations, plus provide you with the Korean written form and example sentences. We’ll also explain when to use each form and how to improve your overall pronunciation in the Korean language.

“Mother,” “Mom,” or “Mommy” in Korean: Quick Translations

  • 어머니 (eomeoni) is the standard way to say “mother” in Korean, whether you’re talking about your mother or someone else’s mother.
  • 엄마 (eomma) is the informal way to say “mother” in Korean, which is similar to “mom” or “mommy” in English.
  • 어머님 (eomeonim) is the formal way to say “mother” in Korean, and it’s used when you want to be extra polite and respectful.
Section 1 of 4:

Standard Way to Say “Mother” in Korean

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  1. This is the most common way to say “mother” among adults. [1] You can use the standard form when talking about your mother to someone else, or when referring to someone else’s mother. Older and middle-aged generations use this form when talking with their parents, but newer generations use both the standard and informal forms.
    • Pronunciation: uh-muh-ni
    • Example: 어머니는 어떻게 지내세요? / eomeonineun eotteohge jinaeseyo? / How is your mother doing?
    • If you’re talking about your own mother, preface 어머니 (eomeoni) with the word 우리 (uri), meaning “our” in English. Korean people use “our” when talking about a group that they’re a part of, or a person or object they’re strongly attached to. [2]
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Section 2 of 4:

Informal Way to Say “Mother” in Korean

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  1. This is the informal version of “mother” in Korean, which is similar to saying “mom” or “mommy” in English. [3] It’s most commonly used among children, but adults can still use it when talking to their mother directly, or when speaking fondly about her to their friends.
    • Pronunciation: um-ma
    • Example: 우리 엄마는 정말 피곤해요. / uri eommaneun jeongmal pigonhaeyo. / My mom is really tired.
    • Some people spell “eomma” as “umma” or “omma.”
Section 3 of 4:

Formal Way to Say “Mother” in Korean

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  1. Korean people add the honorific 님 (nim) to the end of kinship terms, titles, and names to show respect. It is reserved for people who are older or of higher status, especially if you are meeting them for the first time. [4] If you’re addressing your mother or someone else’s mother, 어머님 (eomeonim) is the most polite and respectful form.
    • Pronunciation: um-ma
    • Example: 우리 남자친구 어머님이 김치를 맛있게 만드시네요. / uri namjachingu eomeonim-i gimchileul mas-issge mandeusineyo. / My boyfriend’s mother makes really good kimchi.
    • Adults mainly use 어머님 (eomeonim) when meeting a friend or partner’s mom for the first time.
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Improve Your Pronunciation of Korean Words

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  1. If you know Korean people, ask them to say “mother” to you and coach you on the right inflection. Otherwise, look for YouTube videos, voice recordings, and other speaking samples on the Internet. There are tons of tutorials that can help you get the pronunciation down, and you may find that it is much easier to imitate the language if you hear it aloud. [5]
    • Watch K-dramas to improve your overall pronunciation. While you may not hear the word "mother" often, you might find that it's easier to say the word if you understand the context. [6]
  2. The inflection on the word might be different from what you're used to, so take your time to fully grasp each syllable. String the syllables together once you can confidently and correctly pronounce each of them, then say it quickly. [7] Native Korean speakers tend to speak quickly, so you will sound more authentic if you follow suit.
  3. Consider learning Korean . You can call your mother "eomma" out of context, whether or not you’re a fluent Korean speaker, but you will be able to use the word more effectively if you can speak more of the language. Learn the Korean alphabet (Hangul), explore online resources, buy a guide to learn basic Korean, and try to practice the language whenever you have the opportunity. [8]
    • Popular language-learning apps like Duolingo and Busuu may be a great place to start learning Korean.
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    How do I say "I love you" in Korean?
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    You can say I love you in Korean by saying "sa-rang-hae."
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    How can I learn my name in Korean?
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    Usually, your name in Korean is just how you sound out your name in English. Korean is based off of phonetics, for the most part.
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    How do I say "father" in Korean?
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    You can say 'Appa' (아빠), which means 'father' or 'dad'.
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      Tips

      • Don't say the word very slowly if you already understand the pronunciation. Most Koreans speak quickly, and you might sound out of place if you're struggling to enunciate each syllable.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.learn-korean.net/learn-korean-classes-viewarticle-42.html
      2. ↑ https://www.koreanclass101.com/lesson/absolute-beginner-questions-answered-by-jae-25-our-or-my?lp=130#
      3. ↑ https://gogohanguk.com/en/blog/common-korean-phrases-in-k-dramas/
      4. ↑ https://lbms03.cityu.edu.hk/oaps/ctl2011-4235-wky201.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.optilingo.com/blog/korean/learning-how-to-speak-korean/
      6. ↑ https://www.katturner.com/blog/can-you-learn-to-speak-korean-by-watching-k-dramas
      7. ↑ https://www.optilingo.com/blog/korean/learning-how-to-speak-korean/
      8. ↑ https://www.optilingo.com/blog/korean/learning-how-to-speak-korean/

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