우리 이모
uri imo
The English phrase "my aunt" is translated into Korean as 우리 이모 (uri imo).
The term 이모 specifically refers to a maternal aunt, which is the sister of one's mother. It is also commonly used as a friendly or respectful way to address middle-aged women in restaurants or social settings, even if they are not related to you.
Which one should you use?
In Korean, you must distinguish between sides of the family: 이모 is used for a maternal aunt, while 고모 is used for a paternal aunt.
How do you pronounce it?
uri imo
When do people say it?
Koreans often use the word for 'our' instead of 'my' when referring to family members.
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, the word 이모 might be jokingly or mistakenly associated with the English slang 'emo' due to the identical pronunciation of the syllables in Korean.
- The word 이모 is derived from the Sino-Korean characters 姨母, where 姨 means 'maternal aunt' and 母 means 'mother'.
- Using 이모 to address a stranger in a restaurant is a way of creating a 'pseudo-family' bond, treating the shopkeeper as a maternal figure to ensure friendly service.
Examples in context
- 이모님이 오셨어요.My aunt has arrived.
- 고모님이 식사 중이세요.My aunt is having a meal.
- 이모가 너무 예뻐요.My aunt is very beautiful.
- 고모가 자주 전화해.My aunt calls often.
- 우리 이모는 정말 친절해요.uri imoneun jeongmal chinjeolhaeyo.My aunt is very kind.
- 우리 이모를 만날 거예요.uri imoreul mannal geoyeyo.I am going to see my aunt.
- 우리 이모가 요리를 잘해요.uri imoga yorireul jalhaeyo.My aunt is good at cooking.
Example conversation
Hyun-woo is showing a photo to Ji-eun.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo이 사진 속에 있는 분이 우리 이모예요.i sajin soge inneun buni uri imoyeyo.The person in this photo is my aunt.
- 지은 Ji-eun와, 정말 젊어 보이시네요.wa, jeongmal jeolmeo boisineyo.Wow, she looks very young.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo감사해요. 우리 이모가 패션에 관심이 많으세요.gamsahaeyo. uri imoga paesyeone gwansimi maneuseyo.Thank you. My aunt is very interested in fashion.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말 세련되신 것 같아요.jeongmal seryeondoesin geot gatayo.She seems very sophisticated.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 우리, 이모, CC BY-SA 4.0.
