Korean word

며느리

Pronunciation

Romanizationmyeoneuri

Meaning

  • noundaughter-in-law

Example

우리 며느리는 착해요.u ri myeo neu ri neun cha kae yo

Our daughter-in-law is kind.

Illustration for 며느리 (daughter-in-law)

More examples

며느리와 식사했어요.myeo neu ri wa sik ssa hae sseo yo

I had a meal with my daughter-in-law.

Core concept

A son's wife understood as a woman who takes a place in her husband's family.

Common phrases

  • 며느리와 식사myeo neu ri wa sik ssa

    have a meal with daughter-in-law

  • 며느리에게 인사하다myeo neu ri e ge in sa ha da

    greet daughter-in-law

  • 며느리를 맞이하다myeo neu ri reul ma ji ha da

    welcome daughter-in-law

Similar words

아내anae: A married woman regarded as her husband's life partner.
부인puin: A polite way to refer to another person's wife.
사위sawi: A daughter's husband who becomes part of the family.
며느님myeoneunim: An honorific form for referring to a son's wife.

Definition in Korean

아들의 부인으로서 결혼 후부터 남편 가족 안에서의 지위를 가리키는 여성.a deu rui pu i neu ro seo kyeol hon hu bu teo nam pyeon ka jok a ne seo ui chi wi reul ka ri ki neun yeo seong

Word origin

The origin of 며느리 (myeoneuri, "daughter-in-law") is uncertain, and it is a native Korean kinship term rather than a transparent modern compound.

Usage tips

  • Korean kinship vocabulary often identifies which side of a family a person belongs to, so this word is not a general label for every in-law.

Opposites

Related words

  • 며느리감myeoneurigamprospective daughter-in-lawnoun

Word lists with this word