Korean · People & Family
"Mother-in-law" in Korean: 시어머니 / 장모
시어머니 / 장모sieomeoni / jangmo
Note: 시어머니: husband’s mother; 장모: wife’s mother (respectfully 장모님).
Mother-in-law in Korean is 시어머니 / 장모 (sieomeoni / jangmo). 시어머니 is a husband’s mother; 장모 is a wife’s mother, often addressed as 장모님.
Talking about family
제 시어머니가 집에 있어요.je sieomeoniga jibe isseoyo.
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How to pronounce 시어머니 / 장모
Say it
sieomeoni
/siʌmʌni/
시어머니 (sieomeoni) has 4 Hangul syllables. 시어머니 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
"Mother-in-law" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 시어머니sieomeoni | Mother-in-law Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 시어머니와 장모sieomeoniwa jangmo | husband’s mother and wife’s mother A useful combination with 시어머니. | A useful combination with 시어머니. |
| 시어머니를sieomeonireul | Mother-in-law (as an object) Use 를 when 시어머니 is the object of an action. | Use 를 when 시어머니 is the object of an action. |
| 장모jangmo | Mother-in-law An alternative shown alongside 시어머니; choose according to the meaning. | An alternative shown alongside 시어머니; choose according to the meaning. |
How to use 시어머니 / 장모 in real life
- 1Talking about family
제 시어머니가 집에 있어요.
je sieomeoniga jibe isseoyo.
My mother-in-law is at home.
시어머니가 marks 시어머니 as the subject.
- 2Explaining who came
시어머니와 같이 왔어요.
sieomeoniwa gachi wasseoyo.
I came with my mother-in-law.
시어머니 appears in a complete sentence for mother-in-law.
- 3Making family plans
오늘 시어머니를 만나요.
oneul sieomeonireul mannayo.
I am meeting my mother-in-law today.
시어머니를 uses 를 to mark an object.
Mistakes English speakers make with 시어머니 / 장모
Incorrect: 제 시어머니이 집에 있어요.
Correct: 제 시어머니가 집에 있어요.
When practicing mother-in-law, use the correct particle or copula after 시어머니; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 시어머니이에요.
Correct: 시어머니예요.
When practicing mother-in-law, when identifying something as 시어머니, use 시어머니예요. The vowel-final noun takes 예요 directly.
Good to know
시어머니 is a husband’s mother; 장모 is a wife’s mother, often addressed as 장모님. The combination 시어머니와 장모 (sieomeoniwa jangmo) means husband’s mother and wife’s mother.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 시어머니 / 장모
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 시어머니가 집에 있어요.
je sieomeoniga jibe isseoyo.
My mother-in-law is at home.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
시어머니와 같이 왔어요.
sieomeoniwa gachi wasseoyo.
I came with my mother-in-law.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Mother-in-law" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Mother-in-law" in Korean
What does 시어머니 mean in Korean?
Mother-in-law in Korean is 시어머니 / 장모 (sieomeoni / jangmo). 시어머니 is a husband’s mother; 장모 is a wife’s mother, often addressed as 장모님.
How do I use 시어머니와 장모?
시어머니와 장모 (sieomeoniwa jangmo) means husband’s mother and wife’s mother. 시어머니 is a husband’s mother; 장모 is a wife’s mother, often addressed as 장모님.
Which object particle goes after 시어머니?
The object form is 시어머니를 because 시어머니 ends in a vowel.
How is 시어머니 pronounced?
시어머니 (sieomeoni) has 4 Hangul syllables. 시어머니 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
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