Korean word

할머니

Pronunciation

Romanizationhalmeoni

Meaning

  • noungrandma

Example

할머니께서 집에 계세요.hal meo ni kke seo chi be kye se yo

Grandma is at home.

Illustration for 할머니 (grandma)

More examples

결혼식 사진에 할머니가 함께 찍혔어요.kyeol hon sik sa ji ne hal meo ni ga ham kke jji kyeo sseo yo

Grandma was also in the wedding photo.

Core concept

An affectionate family label for an older woman who is treated as a grandmother.

Common phrases

  • 할머니 댁hal meo ni taek

    grandma's house

  • 할머니 사진hal meo ni sa jin

    picture of grandma

  • 할머니 손주hal meo ni son ju

    grandma's grandchild

Similar words

외할머니oehalmeoni: A grandmother on the mother's side of the family.
친할머니chinhalmeoni: A grandmother on the father's side of the family.
할매halmae: A casual spoken name for a grandmother used in familiar or dialect speech.
할머님halmeonim: A respectful term for addressing a grandmother.

Definition in Korean

가까운 가족이나 손주가 친근하게 부르는 여성 어른을 가리키는 말.ka kka un ka jo gi na son ju ga chin geun ha ge pu reu neun yeo seong eo reu neul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

The word is a native Korean formation that developed from an older familiar term for a grandmother, with its exact historical changes not fully known.

Usage tips

  • The word sounds warm rather than formal, so it fits family conversation better than official or highly respectful speech.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word