mom in korean
How to Say "Mom" in Korean (엄마 / 어머니): Casual & Formal
엄마
eomma
Quick answer
Say 엄마 (eomma) when talking to or calling your own mom, and 어머니 (eomeoni) in formal, polite, or written contexts.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual / direct address | 엄마 | eomma | How most Koreans call their own mother — warm, everyday, like 'mom' in English. |
| polite / formal | 어머니 | eomeoni | Formal 'mother' — used in writing, formal speech, or when talking about someone else's mother respectfully. |
| calling out loud | 엄마야! | eommaya! | 엄마야 can also be a shocked exclamation — 'oh my goodness!' — not always literally calling mom. |
| respectful (someone else's mom) | 어머님 | eomeonim | Honorific form of 어머니 — used for your partner's mother or someone else's mom out of respect. |
How it changes by relationship
엄마, 밥 줘!
Eomma, bap jwo!
calling your own mom: Mom, give me food! — a quintessential K-drama home scene.
우리 엄마가 요리 잘 해.
Uri eommaga yori jal hae.
talking about your mom to others (casual): My mom cooks well — 우리 엄마 is the typical possessive form.
어머니께서 많이 걱정하세요.
Eomeonikkeseo mani geokjeong-haseyo.
talking about your mom (formal / polite): My mother worries a lot — using 어머니 + the honorific subject marker 께서.
어머님, 안녕하세요!
Eomeonim, annyeonghaseyo!
addressing someone else's mom (respectful): Hello, ma'am / hello, (his/her) mom — the polite form when meeting a partner's mother.
Examples
엄마, 나 왔어!
Eomma, na wasseo!
Mom, I'm home!
어머니, 음식이 정말 맛있어요.
Eomeoni, eumsigi jeongmal masisseoyo.
Mother, the food is really delicious.
우리 엄마 보고 싶다.
Uri eomma bogo sipda.
I miss my mom.
Usage note
엄마 is intimate and warm — it's the word Koreans grow up saying. Using 어머니 to call your own mother to her face can sound stiff or overly formal in everyday speech, though it's perfectly respectful in writing or ceremony.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "mom" here?
FAQ
How do I address my Korean boyfriend's mom?
어머님 (eomeonim) is the respectful form for someone else's mother. It shows you acknowledge her status — very important in Korean family culture.
What does 엄마야! mean?
When used as an exclamation (not calling a mom), 엄마야 expresses surprise or mild fright — similar to 'oh my!' or 'eek!' in English.
Is there a difference between 엄마 and 엄만?
엄만 (eomman) is an informal contraction of 엄마는 (eomma-neun, as for mom) — you'll see it in casual speech or texts. Same thing, just shortened.