Korean word

외삼촌

Pronunciation

Romanizationoesamchon

Meaning

  • nounmother's brother

Example

오늘 외삼촌을 만나러 가요.o neul oe sam cho neul man na reo ka yo

I'm going to see my mother's brother today.

Illustration for 외삼촌 (mother's brother)

More examples

저녁에 외삼촌에게 전화해 볼게요.cheo nyeo ge oe sam cho ne ge cheon hwa hae pol kke yo

I'll try calling my mother's brother this evening.

Core concept

The mother's brother as a familiar older-generation relative in the family.

Common phrases

  • 외삼촌에게 전화하다oe sam cho ne ge cheon hwa ha da

    call one's mother's brother

Similar words

삼촌samchon: A brother of either parent is a male family relative in the parent generation.
이모imo: A mother's sister is a female family relative in the parent generation.
고모komo: A father's sister is a female family relative in the parent generation.
작은아버지chageunabeoji: A father's younger brother is a male family relative in the parent generation.

Definition in Korean

어머니 쪽의 친척 가운데 부모 세대인 남자를 가리키는 말로, 어머니의 형제(오빠나 남동생)를 뜻함.eo meo ni jjo gui chin cheok ka un de pu mo se dae in nam ja reul ka ri ki neun mal lo eo meo ni ui hyeong je o ppa na nam dong saeng reul tteu tam

Word origin

외삼촌 (oesamchon, "mother's brother") combines 외 (oe, "maternal side") with 삼촌 (samchon, "uncle") to identify the mother's brother.

Usage tips

  • A plain English translation can hide an important family distinction, because Korean separates maternal and paternal uncles in everyday vocabulary.

Word lists with this word