내
nae[nɛ]
In Korean, 'my' can be expressed as 내 (nae) or 제.
Meaning: belonging to me (det)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 내 | nae | [nɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ne̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 제 | je | [t͡ɕe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
These terms are possessive determiners used to indicate that something belongs to the speaker.
Which one should you use?
내 is the informal version of 'my' used with friends or people younger than you. 제 is the polite or humble version of 'my' used when speaking to elders or in formal settings. Another form, 나의, is also an informal way to say 'my'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 제 is a contraction of the humble word 저 (I) and the possessive particle 의 (of).
How do you pronounce it?
nae
Did you know?
- While English uses 'my' for almost everything, Korean speakers often avoid using 내 or 제 when referring to things that belong to their family or group, such as 'my mother' or 'my house'.
- The word 내 once served as the general word for 'smoke', but it was eventually replaced by the Sino-Korean term 연기 because 내 had too many homophones.
- If you are speaking to someone much older, using the informal 내 to refer to your own belongings can sound incredibly rude, as it fails to lower your own status appropriately.
Examples in context
- 내 인생 개 같다.Fuck my life!This sentence shows the use of 내 in a highly informal, frustrated context.Tatoeba #6305354 by Queserasera, translation #2629766 by drjuly
- 왜 내 발이 아프지?Why do my feet hurt?This sentence uses 내 to indicate possession of body parts.Tatoeba #8533577 by Eunhee, translation #6299413 by Hybrid
- 나는 내 방이 있다.I have my own room.This sentence uses 내 to show possession of a room.Tatoeba #11105254 by intertime, translation #436677 by lukaszpp
- 제 집My house
- 제 차My car
- 제 가족My family
- 제 일My work/job
- 제 휴대전화My cellphone
- 나의 고양이My cat
- 나의 취미My hobby
- 나의 진짜 친구My true friend
- 307 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon and Subin are looking for a lost phone on a table.
- 지훈 Ji-hun이거 내 핸드폰이야?Igeo nae haendeupon-iya?Is this my phone?
- 수빈 Su-bin아니, 이건 내 거 아니야.Ani, igeon nae geo aniya.No, this isn't mine.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그럼 내 핸드폰 어디 있지?Geureom nae haendeupon eodi itji?Then where is my phone?
- 수빈 Su-bin저기 책상 위에 있어.Jeogi chaeksang wie isseo.It's over there on the desk.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my” translations and entries 내, 제, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 내, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
