Korean · People & Family
"Widow" in Korean: 과부
과부gwabu
Widow in Korean is 과부 (gwabu). 과부 means widow but can sound blunt; 남편을 잃은 분 is a more considerate descriptive alternative.
Introducing someone
저분은 과부예요.jeobuneun gwabuyeyo.
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How to pronounce 과부
Say it
gwabu
/kwapu/
과부 (gwabu) has 2 Hangul syllables. 과부 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
"Widow" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 과부gwabu | Widow Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 과부와 상담gwabuwa sangdam | consultation with a widow A useful combination with 과부. | A useful combination with 과부. |
| 과부를gwabureul | Widow (as an object) Use 를 when 과부 is the object of an action. | Use 를 when 과부 is the object of an action. |
How to use 과부 in real life
- 1Introducing someone
저분은 과부예요.
jeobuneun gwabuyeyo.
That person is a widow.
과부 appears in a complete sentence for widow.
- 2Finding someone
과부가 여기 있어요.
gwabuga yeogi isseoyo.
The widow is here.
과부가 marks 과부 as the subject.
- 3Asking to speak
과부와 이야기하고 싶어요.
gwabuwa iyagihago sipeoyo.
I would like to talk with the widow.
과부 appears in a complete sentence for widow.
Mistakes English speakers make with 과부
Incorrect: 과부이 여기 있어요.
Correct: 과부가 여기 있어요.
When practicing widow, use the correct particle or copula after 과부; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 과부이에요.
Correct: 과부예요.
When practicing widow, when identifying something as 과부, use 과부예요. The vowel-final noun takes 예요 directly.
Good to know
과부 means widow but can sound blunt; 남편을 잃은 분 is a more considerate descriptive alternative. The combination 과부와 상담 (gwabuwa sangdam) means consultation with a widow.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 과부
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
저분은 과부예요.
jeobuneun gwabuyeyo.
That person is a widow.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
과부가 여기 있어요.
gwabuga yeogi isseoyo.
The widow is here.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Widow" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Widow" in Korean
What does 과부 mean in Korean?
Widow in Korean is 과부 (gwabu). 과부 means widow but can sound blunt; 남편을 잃은 분 is a more considerate descriptive alternative.
How do I use 과부와 상담?
과부와 상담 (gwabuwa sangdam) means consultation with a widow. 과부 means widow but can sound blunt; 남편을 잃은 분 is a more considerate descriptive alternative.
Which object particle goes after 과부?
The object form is 과부를 because 과부 ends in a vowel.
How is 과부 pronounced?
과부 (gwabu) has 2 Hangul syllables. 과부 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
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