English to Korean Family and People Words
There are so many types of people you can run into during a normal day. Perhaps you're running into long-lost family members or just some other members of society. This page will help you to name these people in Korean.
Below you will find the English to Korean translations for all sorts of people and family words. There are translations for mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, grandmothers and grandfathers. There's also translations for people you'd find in a school setting or hospital. There's also a section for senior and junior members of school, work, or club activities.
Scroll down or use the quick links below to learn how to say all of these types of family and people words in Korean. While you're at it, you'll also find other related vocabulary that may prove useful when addressing those around you in conversation.
Family and People Words from English to Korean:
Words in bold added during the last update. You can also view this list of family words from Korean to English.
Quick Links:
General People Words from English to Korean
English to Korean Words for Parents
Grandparents from English to Korean
English to Korean Sibling Words
English to Korean for Addressing Seniors and Juniors
School Personnel Translated from English to Korean
Hospital Personnel Translated from English to Korean
General People Words from English to Korean
Before we get into specifics, here are some more general Korean people words to get you started.
Person ➔ Saram
Friend ➔ Chin-gu
Everyone ➔ Yeoreobun (used to address a crowd, kind of like, 'ladies and gentleman')
Hey! Friend ➔ Ya! Ching-gun
English to Korean Words for Parents
There are several words describing parents in Korean, some more formal than others.
Parents ➔ Bumo
Mom ➔ Eomma (Less formal)
Mother ➔ Eomeoni (More formal)
Dad ➔ Appa (Less formal)
Father ➔ Abeoji (More formal)
Grandparents from English to Korean
Here are some words for Korean grandparents.
Grandparents ➔ Jobumo
Grandmother / Old lady ➔ Halmeoni
Grandfather / Old man ➔ Harabeoji
English to Korean Sibling Words
Though we've marked these as sibling words, they may also refer to non-siblings as well.
Big sister ➔ Noona (used by young men to address an older female that they are close to)
Big sister ➔ Unnie (used by young women to address an older female)
Big brother ➔ Hyung (used by young men to address an older male)
Big brother ➔ Oppa (used by young women to address an older male)
Little brother / Little sister ➔ Dongsaeng (used by both genders to address a younger brother or sister)
Little brother ➔ Namdongsaeng (used by both genders to address a younger brother)
Little sister ➔ Yeodongsaeng (used by both genders to address a younger sister)
English to Korean for Addressing Seniors and Juniors
Generally, Sunbae is used to address those who started work, school, or club activities earlier, regardless of age.
Senior / Predecessor ➔ Sunbae
Junior / Underclassman ➔ Hoobae
School Personnel Translated from English to Korean
Here are some people you might run into in a Korean school setting.
Principal ➔ Gyojang seonsaengnim
Vice principal ➔ Gyogam seonsaengnim
Head teacher ➔ Bujang seonsaengnim
Teacher ➔ Seonsaengnim
Student ➔ Hagsaeng
Hospital Personnel Translated from English to Korean
And here are some kinds of people you might find in a Korean hospital setting.
Doctor ➔ Uisa
Nurse ➔ Ganhosa
Patient ➔ Hwanja
This list of English to Korean family and people words was last updated on April 1, 2025.
Next Up
Korean Food and Drink Words: Learn how to say food and drink words in Korean.
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