누구
nugu[nuɡu]
The English word "who" is 누구 (nugu) in Korean.
누구 is an interrogative pronoun used to ask about the identity of a person.
Meaning: who? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
Which one should you use?
While 누구 is the base form, a common polite way to ask "Who is it?" or "Who are you?" (such as when answering a door or a phone) is to use 누구세요?
How does it change in a sentence?
In informal speech, 누구 is often used as a standalone subject or object without additional particles.
How do you pronounce it?
nugu
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, using the word 'you' (당신 or 너) when asking 'Who are you?' can sound confrontational or aggressive, which is why 누구세요? is used to avoid it entirely.
- The word 누구 can function as an indefinite pronoun meaning 'someone' or 'anyone' rather than just a question word. This allows a single word to transition from a specific inquiry to a general statement.
- In 17th-century Korean texts, you might encounter the word written as 누고 instead of the modern 누구. This reflects a historical shift in how the language was pronounced.
Examples in context
- 저 늙은 여성은 누구인가?Who is that old woman?Tatoeba #11105644 by intertime, translation #67781 by CK
- 너한테 막 말 걸던 사람 누구야?Who's the person who was just speaking to you?Tatoeba #8533921 by Eunhee, translation #8533222 by sundown
- 네가 가장 좋아하는 작가는 누구야?Who is your favorite author?Tatoeba #11105341 by intertime, translation #70681 by CK
- 누구입니까?Who are you?
- 뉘신지 아시겠습니까?Do you know who it is?
- 누가 왔어?Who came?
- 누가 그렇게 늦게 왔어?Who came so late?
- 누구냐?Who is it?
- 누가 그렇게 웃었어?Who laughed like that?
- 누구냐, 나 좀 도와줘.Who is it? Please help me.
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin and Jihun are talking about a mysterious phone call.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 씨, 아까 전화 온 사람 누구예요?Jihun ssi, akka jeonhwa on saram nugu-yeyo?Jihun, who was the person who called just now?
- 지훈 Ji-hun잘 모르겠어요. 모르는 번호였거든요.Jal moreugesseoyo. Moreuneun beonho-yeotgeodeunyo.I'm not sure. It was an unknown number.
- 수빈 Su-bin혹시 친구예요?Hoksi ching-u-yeyo?Is it perhaps a friend?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아마도 아는 사람일 거예요.Amado aneun saram-il geoyeyo.Maybe it is someone I know.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “who” translations and entries 누구, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 누구, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
