오빠
oppa[o̞p͈a̠]
The English phrase "older brother" is translated into Korean as either 형 or 오빠 (oppa).
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 오빠 | oppa | [o̞p͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 형 | hyeong | [çʌ̹ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
In Korean, the term used for an older brother depends entirely on the gender of the speaker.
Which one should you use?
The term 형 is used by male speakers to refer to an older brother, whereas the term 오빠 is used by female speakers to refer to an older brother.
How do you pronounce it?
oppa
Did you know?
- While 오빠 is the standard way for a woman to address her older brother, it has evolved into a popular term for women to address older male romantic partners or even celebrities.
- The word 형 is a homonym with several other meanings, including 'punishment' 刑 and 'shape' 形.
- Because Korean culture emphasizes hierarchy, using the correct term for an older brother is often more important than using their actual name.
Examples in context
- 우리 오빠는 아버지를 빼닮았다.My older brother takes after my father.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 오빠 when talking about a brother's resemblance to a father.
- 오빠는 지금 집에 있어요.oppaneun jigeum jibe isseoyo.My older brother is at home now.
Example conversation
A woman and a man are talking about her family.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지 씨, 오빠 있어요?Minji ssi, oppa isseoyo?Minji, do you have an older brother?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 오빠가 한 명 있어요.Ne, oppaga han myeong isseoyo.Yes, I have one older brother.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo오빠는 대학생이에요?Oppaneun daehaksaeng-ieyo?Is your older brother a college student?
- 민지 Min-ji아니요, 오빠는 회사원이에요.Aniyo, oppaneun hoesawon-ieyo.No, my older brother is an office worker.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “older brother” translations and entries 오빠, 형, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 오빠, 형, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
