Korean · People & Family
"Grandmother" in Korean: 할머니
할머니halmeoni
Grandmother in Korean is 할머니 (halmeoni). 할머니 is the Korean noun for grandmother; korean often uses 우리 for one’s own family member; age, relation, and the listener affect direct address.
Talking about family
제 할머니가 집에 계세요.je halmeoniga jibe gyeseyo.
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How to pronounce 할머니
Say it
halmeoni
/halmʌni/
할머니 (halmeoni) has 3 Hangul syllables. 할머니 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
"Grandmother" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 할머니halmeoni | Grandmother Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 제 할머니je halmeoni | my grandmother A useful combination with 할머니. | A useful combination with 할머니. |
| 할머니를halmeonireul | Grandmother (as an object) Use 를 when 할머니 is the object of an action. | Use 를 when 할머니 is the object of an action. |
How to use 할머니 in real life
- 1Talking about family
제 할머니가 집에 계세요.
je halmeoniga jibe gyeseyo.
My grandmother is at home.
할머니가 marks 할머니 as the subject.
- 2Explaining who came
할머니와 같이 왔어요.
halmeoniwa gachi wasseoyo.
I came with my grandmother.
할머니 appears in a complete sentence for grandmother.
- 3Making family plans
오늘 할머니를 만나요.
oneul halmeonireul mannayo.
I am meeting my grandmother today.
할머니를 uses 를 to mark an object.
Mistakes English speakers make with 할머니
Incorrect: 제 할머니이 집에 계세요.
Correct: 제 할머니가 집에 계세요.
When practicing grandmother, use the correct particle or copula after 할머니; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 할머니이에요.
Correct: 할머니예요.
When practicing grandmother, when identifying something as 할머니, use 할머니예요. The vowel-final noun takes 예요 directly.
Good to know
할머니 is the Korean noun for grandmother; korean often uses 우리 for one’s own family member; age, relation, and the listener affect direct address. The combination 제 할머니 (je halmeoni) means my grandmother.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 할머니
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
제 할머니가 집에 계세요.
je halmeoniga jibe gyeseyo.
My grandmother is at home.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
할머니와 같이 왔어요.
halmeoniwa gachi wasseoyo.
I came with my grandmother.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Grandmother" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Grandmother" in Korean
What does 할머니 mean in Korean?
Grandmother in Korean is 할머니 (halmeoni). 할머니 is the Korean noun for grandmother; korean often uses 우리 for one’s own family member; age, relation, and the listener affect direct address.
How do I use 제 할머니?
제 할머니 (je halmeoni) means my grandmother. 할머니 is the Korean noun for grandmother; korean often uses 우리 for one’s own family member; age, relation, and the listener affect direct address.
Which object particle goes after 할머니?
The object form is 할머니를 because 할머니 ends in a vowel.
How is 할머니 pronounced?
할머니 (halmeoni) has 3 Hangul syllables. 할머니 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
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