엄마 사랑해요
eomma saranghaeyo
To say I love my mom in Korean, use 엄마 사랑해요 (eomma saranghaeyo).
엄마 사랑해요 can be said to your mother directly or written in a card or message to her.
What does it mean word for word?
엄마 means mom and 사랑해요 is the polite form of the verb to love. Korean usually leaves out I and my when they are clear from context.
Which one should you use?
어머니 is a more formal and respectful word for mother, as in 어머니 사랑해요. To say it about your mother to others, you can say 엄마를 사랑해. casually or 어머님을 사랑합니다. formally.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
엄마 사랑해 (eomma saranghae) is informal and more intimate.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as eomma saranghaeyo.
Did you know?
- In many Korean families, instead of saying 사랑해요, children might express their love by asking if their mother has eaten, using the phrase 밥 먹었어? ('Have you eaten?'). In Korean culture, checking on someone's well-being through food is a profound way to communicate affection.
- In Korea, expressing love verbally to parents is traditionally less common than in the West, and some adults may find saying 사랑해요 to their mother unexpectedly emotional or shy.
- The word 엄마 actually originated from the ancient Korean word 어미 combined with the calling particle -아. This historical fusion transformed a formal title into the affectionate 'mom' used today.
Examples in context
- 엄마 사랑해요.eomma saranghaeyo.I love my mom.
- 진심으로 엄마 사랑해요.jinsimeuro eomma saranghaeyo.I truly love my mom.
Example conversation
Hyun-woo is giving a gift to his mother while Ji-eun watches.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo엄마 사랑해요. 이거 선물이에요.eomma saranghaeyo. igeo seonmul-ieyo.I love you, mom. This is a gift for you.
- 지은 Ji-eun어머, 고마워라! 우리 아들 최고네.eomeo, gomawo-ra! uri adeul choegone.Oh, thank you! You are the best son.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo항상 건강하세요.hangsang geongang-haseyo.Please always stay healthy.
- 지은 Ji-eun그래, 엄마도 너를 사랑해.geurae, eommado neoreul saranghae.Yes, mom loves you too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 엄마, CC BY-SA 4.0.
