할머니
halmeoni[ha̠ɭmʌ̹ni]
The English phrase grandmother is translated into Korean as 할머니 (halmeoni). Wiktionary also lists 외할머니 (oehalmeoni).
Meaning: mother of someone's parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 할머니 | halmeoni | [ha̠ɭmʌ̹ni] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 외할머니 | oehalmeoni | [we̞ɦa̠ɭmʌ̹ni] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ø̞ɦa̠ɭmʌ̹ni] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term 할머니 refers to a grandmother. It is also used as a polite way to address elderly women in general, even if they are not related to you.
Which one should you use?
While 할머니 is used for a paternal grandmother (father's mother), use 외할머니 to specifically refer to a maternal grandmother (mother's mother).
How do you pronounce it?
halmeoni
Did you know?
- The term 할머니 is often used in the phrase 할머니 손은 약손, which means 'a grandmother's hand is a healing hand'.
- In the term 외할머니, the character 외 means 'outside', which historically reflects the tradition of the maternal family being viewed as being outside the primary patrilineal household.
- Depending on the region, some speakers use 할매 as a more affectionate or dialect-specific version of 할머니.
Examples in context
- 할머니는 구수한 옛날 얘기를 들려주시곤 했다.My grandmother used to tell me pleasant fairy tales.This sentence shows how to use 할머니 when describing a grandmother telling stories.Tatoeba #2655686 by KoreanBeaver, translation #2833958 by 0ni
- 우리 할머니는 정말 요리를 잘하세요.uri halmeoni-neun jeongmal yori-reul jal-haseyo.My grandmother is really good at cooking.
- 할머니께 드릴 선물을 샀어요.halmeoni-kke deuril seonmul-eul sasseoyo.I bought a gift to give to my grandmother.
Example conversation
Minji and Dohyeon are talking about their family during a coffee break.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨, 할머니는 잘 계세요?Dohyeon ssi, halmeoni-neun jal gyeseyo?Dohyeon, is your grandmother doing well?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 할머니는 아주 건강하세요.Ne, halmeoni-neun aju geon-gang-haseyo.Yes, my grandmother is very healthy.
- 민지 Min-ji다행이네요. 저도 할머니가 보고 싶어요.Dahaeng-ineyo. Jeodo halmeoni-ga bogo sipeoyo.That's a relief. I miss my grandmother too.
- 도현 Do-hyeon민지 씨도 곧 찾아뵈면 좋겠어요.Minji ssi-do got chajabaemyeon jokess-eoyo.I hope you can visit your grandmother soon too, Minji.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandmother” translations and entries 할머니, 외할머니, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 외할머니, 할머니, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
