dad in korean
How to Say "Dad" in Korean (아빠 / 아버지): Casual & Formal
아빠
appa
Quick answer
Say 아빠 (appa) when speaking to or about your own dad informally, and 아버지 (abeoji) in formal or respectful contexts.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual / direct address | 아빠 | appa | Warm everyday 'dad' — what most Koreans call their father at home. |
| formal / respectful | 아버지 | abeoji | Father — used in formal situations, writing, or when the tone calls for respect. |
| respectful (someone else's father) | 아버님 | abeonim | Honorific form — used for a partner's father or another's father out of respect. |
| talking about dad to others (casual) | 우리 아빠 | uri appa | My dad — 우리 (uri, 'our') is the common Korean possessive for family. |
How it changes by relationship
아빠, 집에 있어?
Appa, jibe isseo?
calling your own dad: Dad, are you home? — casual family check-in.
우리 아빠가 요리를 잘 해.
Uri appaga yorireul jal hae.
talking about your dad (casual): My dad cooks well.
저희 아버지는 회사원이세요.
Jeohui abeojineun hoesawoniseyo.
formal reference to your father: My father is an office worker — 저희 is the formal/humble possessive.
아버님, 처음 뵙겠습니다.
Abeonim, cheoeum boepgetsseumnida.
addressing someone else's father (respectful): Hello, sir / nice to meet you, father — the proper greeting for a partner's dad.
Examples
아빠, 나 왔어요!
Appa, na wasseoyo!
Dad, I'm home!
아버지, 식사하셨어요?
Abeoji, siksahasyeosseoyo?
Father, have you eaten?
우리 아빠 보고 싶어.
Uri appa bogo sipeo.
I miss my dad.
Usage note
아빠 is the warm family word for dad; 아버지 carries more gravity and formality. Using 아버지 to address your own dad to his face isn't wrong, but among younger Koreans 아빠 is far more common in everyday speech — switching to 아버지 signals a serious or respectful moment.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "dad" here?
FAQ
How do I address my Korean girlfriend's dad?
아버님 (abeonim) is the respectful form for someone else's father. Using this shows you're taking the relationship seriously.
What's the difference between 아빠 and 아버지?
아빠 is casual and warm — like 'dad' in English. 아버지 is more formal — like 'father.' Both are correct; the register fits the situation.
Is 아부지 a word?
아부지 (aboji/abuji) is a regional/dialectal form of 아버지, most associated with the Gyeongsang dialect (southeastern Korea). You'll sometimes hear it in older K-dramas.