언니
eonni[ʌ̹nni]
In Korean, the phrase for "older sister" is translated as 언니 (eonni) or 누나 depending on the gender of the speaker.
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 언니 | eonni | [ʌ̹nni] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 누나 | nuna | [ˈnu(ː)na̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
Both terms refer to an older sister or any older female with whom the speaker has a close social relationship. These words are not limited to biological siblings but are used for older females in a person's social circle.
Which one should you use?
The choice between these forms is determined by the gender of the person speaking. A female speaker uses 언니 to refer to an older sister or an older female, while a male speaker uses 누나 to refer to an older sister or an older female.
How do you pronounce it?
eonni
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the same word for "older sister" regardless of their own gender, but in Korean, the choice depends on the speaker's gender.
Did you know?
- Some linguists believe 언니 began as a childish or baby-talk pronunciation of the formal term for older sibling 형님.
- In Korean culture, using 언니 or 누나 for a non-relative is a way to signal a transition from a formal acquaintance to a closer, familial-like bond.
- Calling a female stranger 언니 or 누나 can sometimes be seen as overly forward or inappropriately friendly depending on the social setting.
Examples in context
- 나 너네 언니 만나고 싶어I'd like to meet your older sister.This sentence shows how to use 언니 to refer to someone's older sister.Tatoeba #8306577 by ljj, translation #997875 by CK
- 우리 누나는 날마다 피아노를 친다.My older sister plays the piano every day.This sentence demonstrates the use of 누나 when talking about an older sister's habits.Tatoeba #3677082 by ssuss32, translation #3953987 by KoreanBeaver
- 나에게는 누나가 있다.I have an older sister.This sentence shows how to use 누나 to state that you have an older sister.Tatoeba #11106025 by intertime, translation #9186798 by CK
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon and Seoyeon are talking about Seoyeon's family.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨는 언니가 있어요?Seoyeon ssi-neun eonni-ga isseoyo?Do you have an older sister, Seoyeon?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 언니가 한 명 있어요.Ne, eonni-ga han myeong isseoyo.Yes, I have one older sister.
- 지훈 Ji-hun언니는 학생이에요?Eonni-neun haksaeng-ieyo?Is your older sister a student?
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니요, 언니는 회사원이에요.Aniyo, eonni-neun hoesawon-ieyo.No, my older sister is an office worker.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “older sister” translations and entries 언니, 누나, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 누나, 언니, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
