Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 아버지 | abeoji | [a̠bʌ̹d͡ʑi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 아버님 | abeonim | [a̠bʌ̹nim] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | honorific |
| 애비 | aebi | [ɛbi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [e̞bi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
humble |
| 부친 | buchin | [put͡ɕʰin] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | formal |
The term 아버지 is a common and respectful way to say 'father'. In religious contexts, it can also refer to God, the father of Creation, as seen in the term 천부.
Which one should you use?
While 아버지 is the standard term, 아빠 is an informal and more affectionate way to say 'daddy' or 'papa'. For addressing a father-in-law or someone else's father with high respect, the honorific form 아버님 is appropriate. Finally, 애비 is a humble form that a father might use to refer to himself when speaking to others, but it can also sound derogatory or extremely low-register if used incorrectly.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
아버지 is the standard, respectful term. 아빠 is informal and carries a warm, affectionate tone. 아버님 is an honorific used to show high respect to someone else's father or a father-in-law. 부친 is a formal term used primarily in written contexts or very formal speech. 애비 is a humble form used by a father to refer to himself, but it is also considered a very low-register or derogatory term.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
abeoji
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful with the word 애비. While a father may use it to refer to himself humbly, using it incorrectly can sound derogatory or extremely low-register.
When do people say it?
When speaking about one's own father, Koreans often use the possessive 우리 (our) instead of 내 (my) to express a sense of collective identity, such as in the phrase 우리 아버지.
Did you know?
- The honorific form 아버님 appears in the Yongbi eocheon'ga, a poem praising the founders of the Joseon Dynasty written in 1447.
- The word 애비 is a linguistic double-edged sword. A father may use it to refer to himself very humbly, but if a child uses it to refer to their father, it sounds extremely disrespectful or even derogatory.
- The term 부친 is so formal that it is rarely spoken aloud in daily life and is primarily reserved for official documents or funeral notices.
Examples in context
- 아버지 말 좀 들어.Listen to your father.Tatoeba #11106258 by intertime, translation #3001281 by Hybrid
- 우리 아버지는 집에 계신다.My father is home.Tatoeba #3684923 by intertime, translation #2431429 by turtletonsure
- 아버지는 2년 전에 돌아가셨다.My father passed away two years ago.Tatoeba #10761549 by HappyMidnight, translation #318940 by CK
- 아버지께서 어디에 계세요?Where is your father?
- 아빠한테 선물을 받았어요.I received a gift from my dad.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon and Seoyeon are talking about their families.
- 지훈 Ji-hun우리 아버지는 요리를 잘하세요.uri abeojineun yorireul jalhaseyo.My father is good at cooking.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말요? 지훈 씨 아버지는 멋지시네요.jeongmallyo? jihun ssi abeojineun meotjisineyo.Really? Jihoon, your father is cool.
- 지훈 Ji-hun감사합니다. 서연 씨 아버지는 어떠세요?gamsahamnida. seoyeon ssi abeojineun eotteoseyo?Thank you. How about your father, Seoyeon?
- 서연 Seo-yeon저희 아버지도 친절한 분이세요.jeohui abeojido chinjeolhan buniseyo.My father is also a kind person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “father” translations and entries 아버지, 아버님, 애비, 부친, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 부친, 아버님, 아버지, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
