Hey there ! Following our last article about how to say “Brother” in Korean, we’re now tackling the word “Sister” in Korean. 🙂
Understanding family terminology is fundamental when learning a new language, especially in cultures where familial bonds are deeply valued. Korean is no exception, offering distinct terms based on the speaker’s gender and the relative age of the sister.
Whether you’re navigating a family gathering or bonding with friends, knowing these terms can enrich your interactions. This guide breaks down how to say “sister” in Korean, covering everything from older and younger sisters to sister-in-law and even step-sisters.
Table of Contents
Basics : Sister in Korean
In Korean, the word for sister changes not just with familial context but also depending on who’s speaking. Here are the primary terms you need to know:
- 언니 (eonni): Used by females to refer to an older sister. It can either be used to refer to your biological older sister, or your close older female friend if you’re a female.
- 누나 (nuna): Used by males to refer to an older sister. It can either be used to refer to your biological older sister, or your close older female friend if you’re a male.
- 여동생 (yeodongsaeng): Refers to a younger sister and can be used by anyone regardless of their own gender.
Formal Terms for Sister in Korean
While everyday conversations usually employ the terms above, there are more formal expressions reserved for certain contexts, like in dramas or formal speeches:
- 누이 (Nui): A more traditional and somewhat archaic term, often heard in historical dramas rather than everyday conversation.
In Depth : Sister in Korean
General term : “Sisters” in Korean
While specific terms are prevalent, general terms for groups of sisters include:
- 여자 형제 (Yeoja hyeongje): Literally means female siblings, though it’s less commonly used.
- 자매 (Jamae): A more common term for sisters.
Note about “Younger sister” in Korean
As noted in the “Basics : Brother in Korean“, 여동생 (Yeodongsaeng) means “younger sister”. It is a gender-neutral term used by both males and females for a younger brother. But you can also call a younger sister “동생” (Dongsaeng). It is a term used to call a younger sibling of any gender – male or female.
Stepsister & Half-sister in Korean
Stepsister in Korean
- 의붓언니 / 의붓누나 (Uibudeonni/Uibutnuna): Step older sister for females and males respectively.
- 의붓동생 : Younger stepsisters are referred to as 의붓동생 (Uibutdongsaeng) regardless of the speaker’s gender.
Half-sister in Korean
- 이복언니/누나 (Ibogeonni/Iboknuna): Half older sister for females and males respectively.
- 이복동생 (Uibutdongsaeng/Ibokdongsaeng): Younger half-sister for both genders.
Sister-in-Law in Korean
Just like brother-in-law, Sister-in-law in Korean is complex and varies greatly depending on the specific family connection. You can read about it in the “표준 언어 예절”.
Your Husband’s Sister – WHEN you are a woman
Husband’s older sister
- You call her: “형님“
- You talk about/mention her : 고모(님) to your children, 형님 to your husband’s relatives, 시누이, 형님, ~고모 to others.
Husband’s younger sister
- You call her: “아가씨“
- You talk about/mention her: 고모(님) to your children, 아가씨 to your husband’s relatives, 시누이 / ~고모 to your blood relatives, 시누이, 아가씨, ~고모 to others.
Your Wife’s Sister – WHEN you are a man
Wife’s older sister
- You call her: “처형“
- You talk about/mention her: 처형 to your wife, wife’s parents, wife’s older siblings and spouses, 누나 / 누님 to your wife’s younger brothers and husband’s of your wife’s younger sisters, 언니 to your wife’s younger sisters and wives of your wife’s younger brothers, 이모(님) to your children, 처형 / ~이모 to others.
Wife’s younger sister
- You call her : “처제“
- You talk about/mention her : 처제 to your wife, wife’s older siblings and spouses, 처제 or 동생 to your wife’s younger siblings (older than her), and their spouses (older than her), 누나 / 누님 to your wife’s younger brothers (younger than her) and your wife’s younger sisters’ husbands (younger than her), 언니 to your wife’s younger sisters (younger than her) and your wife’s younger brothers’ wives (younger than her), 이모(님) to your children, 처제, ~이모 to others.
Your brother’s wife – WHEN you are a woman
Your older brother’s wife
- You call her : “새언니” / “언니“
- You talk about/mention her : 외숙모 / 외숙모님 to your children, 새언니, 언니, 올케, or 올케언니 to your parents, siblings, and the spouses of your siblings, 올케, 올케언니, 새언니, ~외숙모 to others.
Your younger brother’s wife
- You call her : “올케“
- You talk about / mention her : 외숙모 to your children, 올케 to your parents, siblings, and the spouses of your siblings, 올케 or ~외숙모 to others
Your brother’s wife – WHEN you are a man
Your older brother’s wife
- You call her : “형수님” / “아주머님” / “아주머니”
- You talk about / mention her : 큰어머니 / 큰어머님 to your children, 형수, 아주머니 to your parents, 형수님, 형수, 아주머니, 아주머님 to your siblings and their spouses, 형수님, 아주머니, 아주머님, ~큰어머니 to your wife’s other blood relatives, 형수님, ~큰어머니 to others.
Your younger brother’s wife
- You call her : “제수씨” / “계수씨“
- You talk about / mention her : 작은어머니 / 숙모 to your children, 제수(씨), 계수(씨) to your parents, siblings, and the spouses of your siblings, 제수, 제수씨, 계수, 계수씨, ~작은어머니 to others.
The wife of your husband’s brother WHEN you are a woman
The wife of your husband’s older brother
- You call her : “형님”
- You talk about / mention her : 큰어머니 / 큰어머님 to your children, 형님 to your husband’s other blood relatives, 큰동서, 형님, ~큰어머니 to the others. (she can also be mentioned as 맏동서 but only if she is the wife of your husband’s oldest brother)
The wife of your husband’s younger brother
- You call her : “동서“
- You talk about / mention her : 작은어머니 / 작은어머님 to your children, 동서 to your husband’s other blood relatives, 동서, 작은동서, ~작은어머니 to the others.
The wife of your wife’s brother WHEN you are a man
The wife of your wife’s older brother
- You call her : “아주머니“
- You talk about / mention her : 처남댁 / 처남의 댁 to your wife, your wife’s parents, and to your wife’s older siblings and their spouses, 형수, 언니, 새언니, 올케, 올케언니 to your wife’s younger siblings and their spouses, 외숙모 / 외숙모님 to your children, 처남댁, 처남의 댁, ~외숙모 to the others.
The wife of your wife’s younger brother
- You call her : “처남댁” or “처남의 댁“
- You talk about / mention her : 처남댁 or 처남의 댁 to your wife, your wife’s parents, and to your wife’s older siblings and their spouses, 형수, 언니, 새언니, 올케, 올케언니 to your wife’s younger siblings and their spouses, 외숙모 or 외숙모님 to your children, 처남댁, 처남의 댁, ~외숙모 to the others.
Cultural Notes
Korean language reflects its culture’s respect and affection within familial and social relationships. Older sisters can also be referred to in friendly contexts among women, and it’s common for younger men to use familial terms affectionately toward older female friends, or their girlfriend.
You might have seen this a lot in kdramas, the same goes for real life.
Wrap up
From “언니” to “누나,” understanding how to address sisters in Korean provides not only a linguistic tool but also a cultural insight into respectful and affectionate communication in Korea. These terms open doors to deeper relationships and a fuller appreciation of Korean family dynamics.
