mom in korean
How to Say "Mom" in Korean (엄마 / 어머니): Casual & Formal
엄마
eomma
Quick answer
Say 엄마 (eomma) when talking to or calling your own mom, 어머니 (eomeoni) in formal or written contexts, and 어머님 (eomeonim) when addressing someone else's mother out of respect.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual / direct address | 엄마 | eomma | How most Koreans call their own mother — warm, everyday, and the word Koreans literally grow up saying. The K-drama go-to for any home scene. |
| polite / formal | 어머니 | eomeoni | Formal 'mother' — used in writing, formal speech, speeches, or when talking about someone else's mother with respect. Calling your own mom 어머니 to her face sounds ceremonial in daily life. |
| calling out loud | 엄마야! | eommaya! | 엄마야 serves double duty: literally calling for mom, and as a shocked exclamation ('oh my goodness!' / 'yikes!'). Context makes it obvious which meaning applies. |
| respectful (someone else's mom) | 어머님 | eomeonim | Honorific form with -님 suffix — the standard way to address or refer to a partner's mother, a friend's mother, or any woman in a maternal role you want to show respect to. |
How it changes by relationship
엄마, 밥 줘!
Eomma, bap jwo!
calling your own mom: Mom, give me food! — a quintessential K-drama home scene that captures the casual, entitled-but-affectionate energy of Korean parent-child relationships.
우리 엄마가 요리 잘 해.
Uri eommaga yori jal hae.
talking about your mom to others (casual): My mom cooks well — 우리 엄마 (our mom / my mom) is the standard way Koreans refer to their mother to others; 나의 엄마 sounds unnatural.
어머니께서 많이 걱정하세요.
Eomeonikkeseo mani geokjeong-haseyo.
talking about your mom (formal / polite): My mother worries a lot — using 어머니 + the honorific subject marker 께서 signals you're speaking of her with respect, common in formal or writing contexts.
어머님, 안녕하세요!
Eomeonim, annyeonghaseyo!
addressing someone else's mom (respectful): Hello, ma'am / hello, (his/her) mom — the essential phrase when meeting a Korean partner's mother for the first time. Getting this right makes a strong first impression.
Examples
엄마, 나 왔어!
Eomma, na wasseo!
Mom, I'm home!
어머니, 음식이 정말 맛있어요.
Eomeoni, eumsigi jeongmal masisseoyo.
Mother, the food is really delicious.
우리 엄마 보고 싶다.
Uri eomma bogo sipda.
I miss my mom.
Usage note
엄마 is intimate and warm — it's what Koreans instinctively call out when they need their mother. The crucial distinction from English is the 우리 (our) possessive: Koreans say 우리 엄마 (our mom), not 나의 엄마 (my mom), even when talking about their own mother. This collective framing is deeply cultural — family members are seen as part of a shared 'we,' not individual possessions. Using 어머니 to address your own mom directly in casual speech can sound stiff or like you're giving a speech, though it's perfectly natural in writing or ceremony.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "mom" here?
FAQ
How do I address my Korean boyfriend's mom?
어머님 (eomeonim) is the respectful honorific — it shows you acknowledge her status and take the relationship seriously. This matters a great deal in Korean family culture, where respect for elders is non-negotiable.
What does 엄마야! mean?
When not literally calling a mom, 엄마야 is a mild exclamation of surprise or fright — like 'oh my!' or 'eek!' in English. You'll hear it in comedic K-drama moments when a character is startled.
Is there a difference between 엄마 and 엄만?
엄만 (eomman) is an informal contraction of 엄마는 (eomma-neun, 'as for mom' / 'mom said...') — used in quick casual speech or texting. Same meaning, just shortened for speed.
What's the difference between 어머니 and 어머님?
어머니 is the standard formal word for 'mother.' 어머님 adds the -님 suffix for extra respect — specifically used for someone else's mother, a mother-in-law, or any older woman in a maternal role.
How do I say 'mom' when talking to a Korean friend about their mom?
어머니 is the safest formal reference. If you're close with your friend, 어머님 also works. Avoid 엄마 when talking about someone else's mother — it sounds too familiar.
What Korean family terms should I know besides 엄마?
아빠 (appa, dad), 오빠 (oppa, older brother from a girl's perspective), 언니 (unnie, older sister from a girl's perspective), 형 (hyung, older brother from a boy), 누나 (noona, older sister from a boy). Korean family terms all depend on who is speaking.