엄마
eomma[ʌ̹mma̠]
The English phrase "hey mom" is expressed in Korean using 엄마 (eomma).
엄마 is used to address or get the attention of one's mother. To say "Hey mom!" to get her attention, you typically just call out the word 엄마 itself, often with a rising intonation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
엄마 is an informal and affectionate term for mother, similar to "mom" or "mommy" in English. It is the most common and casual way to address your mother in Korean.
How do you pronounce it?
eomma
Did you know?
- Because 엄마 is a highly emotional and soft word, even adult children in Korea may switch from formal speech to using 엄마 when they are feeling particularly vulnerable or seeking comfort.
- The word 엄마 is formed by fusing the word for mother 어미 with the vocative particle -아, which is used when calling out to someone.
- Calling 엄마 with a long, drawn-out vowel sound can signal that the speaker is whining, pleading for a favor or acting cute.
Examples in context
- Eomma, annyeong (엄마, 안녕)Hey Mom, hello
- 엄마, 배고파요.eomma, baegopayo.Mom, I'm hungry.
- 엄마, 이것 좀 보세요.eomma, igeot jom boseyo.Mom, look at this.
- 엄마, 어디 가요?eomma, eodi gayo?Mom, where are you going?
Example conversation
Minjun is calling his mother in the living room.
- 민준 Min-jun엄마, 제 방에 있어요?eomma, je bang-e isseoyo?Mom, are you in my room?
- 민지 Min-ji아니, 거실에 있어.ani, geosil-e isseo.No, I'm in the living room.
- 민준 Min-jun제 양말 어디에 있어요?je yangmal eodie isseoyo?Where are my socks?
- 민지 Min-ji서랍 안에 확인해 봐.seorap ane hwaginhae bwa.Check inside the drawer.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 엄마, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 엄마, CC BY-SA 4.0.
