누나
nuna[ˈnu(ː)na̠]
누나 (nuna) is the Korean term for noona, used by a younger male to address or refer to an older sister or an older female friend.
The term is used by a male speaker to address an older female.
Which one should you use?
A male speaker uses 누나 to address an older female, whereas a female speaker would use 언니 instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'She is my noona' politely, you would use the form 누나예요. 누나야 adds the particle '야' to the end to give a familiar tone used among close friends or siblings.
How do you pronounce it?
nuna
Did you know?
- Using 누나 to address a woman who is actually younger than you, or of the same age, is sometimes done as a joke or a playful tease.
- In some romantic contexts, a younger man might use the term 누나 to playfully highlight the age difference in a courtship, a dynamic often explored in Korean romantic dramas.
- In certain dialects like Gyeongsang, you might hear a more archaic pronunciation of 누나 that preserves a 'b' or 'p' sound, reflecting its ancient linguistic roots.
Examples in context
- 누나, 뭐 해요?nuna, mwo haeyo?Noona, what are you doing?
- 우리 누나는 정말 예뻐요.uri nunaneun jeongmal yeppeoyo.My noona is really pretty.
- 누나, 이거 드셔 보세요.nuna, igeo deusyeo boseyo.Noona, please try this.
Example conversation
Dohyun is asking Subin for help with his homework.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현아, 왜 불렀어?Dohyona, wae bulleosseo?Dohyun, why did you call me?
- 도현 Do-hyeon누나, 이 문제 좀 도와주세요.nuna, i munje jom dowajuseyo.Noona, please help me with this problem.
- 수빈 Su-bin어디 보자, 이건 쉬워.eodi boja, igeon swiwo.Let me see, this is easy.
- 도현 Do-hyeon역시 누나는 똑똑해요!yeoksi nunaneun ttokttokhaeyo!As expected, Noona is smart!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 누나, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 누나, CC BY-SA 4.0.
