언니
eonniused by girls and women
A girl calls her older sister 언니 (eonni) in Korean. 누나 (nuna) is the word a boy uses, so the speaker's gender decides the word.
Meaning: older sister, as a girl calls her (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 언니 | eonni | used by girls and women |
| 누나 | nuna | used by boys and men |
Girls and women also use 언니 for older female friends and for women a little older. Shop staff use it to address women customers in a friendly way.
Is it said differently in some regions?
For an older brother a girl says 오빠 (oppa), while a boy says 형 (hyeong).
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "my older sister" write 우리 언니 (uri eonni) or 내 언니 (nae eonni). Koreans usually say 우리 언니 even for a single sister.
Did you know?
- Korean has separate words for older siblings depending on the speaker's gender, which English does not.
Examples in context
- 언니, 같이 가자!Eonni, gachi gaja!Sister, let's go together!
- 우리 언니는 대학생이에요.Uri eonnineun daehaksaengieyo.My older sister is a university student.
- 언니, 이거 어때요?Eonni, igeo eottaeyo?Sister, how about this?
Example conversation
Yerin talks to her older sister Minji while they get ready in the morning.
- Yerin언니, 내 가방 봤어?Eonni, nae gabang bwasseo?Sister, have you seen my bag?
- Minji의자 위에 있어.Uija wie isseo.It is on the chair.
- Yerin고마워, 언니!Gomawo, eonni!Thanks, sister!
