Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 할머니 | halmeoni | [ha̠ɭmʌ̹ni] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 노파 | nopa | [ˈno̞(ː)pʰa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 노부인 | nobu'in | [ˈno̞(ː)buin] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 로파 | ropa | North Korea | |
| 로부인 | robu'in | North Korea |
The terms used to describe an elderly woman in Korean vary significantly based on the level of respect and the social context.
Which one should you use?
할머니 is the most common and respectful way to refer to an elderly woman, often used as a direct address or a polite noun. 노부인 is a formal and respectful way to refer to an elderly woman, often used in written contexts or formal speech. In contrast, 노파 is a more literary or descriptive term that can carry a derogatory or dehumanizing nuance depending on context, unlike the polite 할머니.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In North Korea, the forms 로파 and 로부인 are used.
How do you pronounce it?
halmeoni
When do people say it?
In Korean culture, 할머니 is frequently used to address any elderly woman as a sign of respect, even if there is no biological relation.
Did you know?
- Using 할머니 to address a woman who is actually middle-aged might be perceived as an unintentional insult regarding her age.
- If you are in North Korea, you will hear the pronunciation of the word for 'old woman' shift from 'n' sounds to 'r' sounds, such as 로파 instead of 노파.
- The character 婆 in the word 노파 literally means 'grandmother', yet the combined word is often used to describe a woman in a way that strips away her dignity.
Examples in context
- 그 여자아이는 버스 안에서 노부인에게 자리를 내주었다.The girl gave her seat to an old woman in the bus.This sentence shows how to use 노부인 when referring to an elderly woman in a formal context.Tatoeba #6963802 by H_Liliom, translation #6964584 by H_Liliom
- 할머님, 오늘 날씨가 좋네요.Grandma, the weather is nice today.
- 할머님, 오늘 무척 예쁘게 생기셨네요.Grandma, you look very beautiful today.
- 할머니가 공원에서 산책하고 계세요.halmeoniga gongwoneseo sanchaekhago gyeseyo.The elderly woman is walking in the park.
- 옆집 할머니께서 맛있는 떡을 주셨어요.yeopjib halmeonikkeseo masinneun tteogeul jusyeosseoyo.The elderly woman next door gave me delicious rice cakes.
Example conversation
Minjun and Jieun are talking about their neighbors.
- 민준 Min-jun지은아, 옆집 할머니 봤어?Jieun-a, yeopjib halmeoni bwasseo?Jieun, did you see the elderly woman next door?
- 지은 Ji-eun응, 인자하신 할머니셔.Eung, injahasin halmeonishyeo.Yes, she is a kind elderly woman.
- 민준 Min-jun그 할머니는 정말 친절해.Geu halmeonineun jeongmal chinjeolhae.That elderly woman is really kind.
- 지은 Ji-eun맞아, 항상 웃으시잖아.Maja, hangsang useusijana.That's true, she is always smiling.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “old woman” translations and entries 할머니, 노파, 노부인, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 노부인, 노파, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
