Dad Vibes: The Three Ways to Say Dad in Korean

Family plays an important role in Korean culture. There are numerous honorific terms people use to show respect for their parents, siblings, and relatives. Saying dad in Korean is no exception – there are not one but three ways to address a father, depending on circumstances. So why don’t we explore them together?

The Basics: Common Terms for Dad in Korean

If you’re familiar with Korean at some level, you’ve probably heard about honorifics. Due to many factors, like the age of your interlocutor or the formality of settings, there might be several variations of one word or phrase. And this doesn’t change when it comes to talking about one’s father in Korean. Below, we’ll explain in more detail when and how you should use different terms when addressing a dad.

Informal Way

For many people, regardless of their age, a father can be a good friend and a great support. In this case, there’s obviously no need to be overly formal with your dad, even when addressing them in a different language. That’s why the first thing we want to tell you is appa meaning Korean.

아빠 (appa) is a short, sweet, and cute way to address the father. It is very casual and informal, so you can only use it in relaxed settings. Moreover, keep in mind that you can only use it when talking to your dad. Addressing someone else’s father using this term might be considered inappropriate or even offensive since this term can often be interpreted as saying daddy in Korean. 

If you want to use this word to say “my dad,” opt for the expression 우리 아빠 (uri appa). It is an important nuance of Korean culture. Using this phrase, you’re basically saying “our dad” instead of “my.” Here are some examples of using 아빠 (appa) in casual conversations:

• 아빠는 주말마다 나와 함께 공원에 갑니다. (A-ppa-neun ju-mal-ma-da na-wa ham-kke gong-won-e gam-ni-da.) – Dad goes to the park with me every weekend.
• 어렸을 때 아빠가 자전거 타는 법을 가르쳐 주셨어요. (Eo-ryeoss-eul ttae a-ppa-ga ja-jeon-geo ta-neun beop-eul ga-reu-chyeo ju-syeoss-eo-yo.) – When I was young, my dad taught me how to ride a bicycle.
• 아빠의 웃음소리가 가장 큰 위로가 됩니다. (A-ppa-ui u-seum-so-ri-ga ga-jang keun wi-ro-ga doem-ni-da.) – Dad’s laughter is the greatest comfort to me.
• 아빠는 매일 아침 일찍 일어나서 운동을 하십니다. (A-ppa-neun mae-il a-chim il-jjik il-eo-na-seo un-dong-eul ha-sim-ni-da.) – Dad wakes up early every morning to exercise.
• 아빠는 항상 저를 지켜 주십니다. (Appa-neun hangsang jeo-reul jikyeo ju-sim-ni-da.) – My dad always protects me.
• 아빠는 저에게 많은 것을 가르쳐 주십니다. (Appa-neun jeo-e-ge manh-eun geos-eul ga-reu-chyeo ju-sim-ni-da.) – My dad teaches me many things.

Formal Way

For more official purposes, you need to use the term 아버님 (a-beo-nim). This one is the most formal version, usually used when addressing other people’s dads, but it can be utilized for your own father, too. Furthermore, it is suitable when addressing your in-laws, but in this case, you might switch to another term (we’ll tell you about it later) if they tell you so. Here are some sentences with 아버님 (a-beo-nim) to help you memorize this Korean word for father:

• 이번 행사에서 아버님과 함께 참석하실 예정인가요? (Ibeon haengsaeseo a-beo-nim-gwa hamkke chamseokhasil yejeong-ingayo?) – Are you planning to attend this event with your father?
• 아버님의 충고를 잊지 않겠습니다. (A-beo-nim-ui chung-go-reul ijji anhgetsseumnida.) – I will not forget your father’s advice.
• 아버님의 인내심과 지혜가 저에게 큰 영향을 주었습니다. (A-beo-nim-ui innae-sim-gwa ji-hye-ga jeo-ege keun yeong-hyang-eul jueossseubnida.) – Your father’s patience and wisdom have had a great influence on me.
• 저의 아버님은 항상 저의 가장 큰 힘이 되어 주셨습니다. (Jeoui a-beo-nim-eun hangsang jeoui gajang keun him-i doe-eo jusyeossseubnida.) – My father has always been my greatest source of strength.
• 이 프로젝트는 저의 아버님의 지원 없이는 성공할 수 없었을 겁니다. (I peurojekteuneun jeoui a-beo-nim-ui ji-won eobsi-neun seong-gonghal su eobseosseul geobnida.) – This project would not have succeeded without the support of my father.
• 저는 저의 아버님을 자랑스럽게 생각합니다. (Jeoneun jeoui a-beo-nim-eul jarangseulopge saeng-gaghamnida.) – I am proud of my father.

Polite Way

And now, it’s time to find out how most native speakers say dad in Korean language. The word 아버지 (a-beo-ji) is the safest option since you can use it in most situations. Whether addressing your own father or someone else’s, this word should be your go-to choice. 

• 저의 아버지는 군인으로 일하셨습니다. (Jeoui a-beo-ji-neun gun-in-euro il-ha-syeoss-seum-ni-da.) – My father was a soldier.
• 그 친구의 아버지는 의사이십니다. (Geu chingu-ui a-beo-ji-neun ui-sa-i-sim-ni-da.) – Her father is a doctor.
• 아버지가 오늘 생신이신데, 축하 메시지를 보내야 할 것 같아요. (A-beo-ji-ga oneul saeng-sin-i-shin-de, chuk-ha me-si-ji-reul bonae-ya hal geot ga-ta-yo.) – It’s my father’s birthday today, I think I should send him congratulations.
• 아버지, 오늘 회사에서 어떻게 지내셨어요? (Abeoji, oneul hoesae seo eotteoke jinaesyeosseoyo?) – Father, how was your day at work today?
• 아버지, 제 결혼식에 와주셔서 감사합니다. (Abeoji, je gyeolhonsige wajusyeoseo gamsahamnida.) – Father, thank you for coming to my wedding.
• 아버지, 저희 가족 모두를 위해 항상 노력해 주셔서 감사합니다. (Abeoji, jeohui gajok modureul wihae hangsang noryeokhae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida.) – Father, thank you for always working hard for our family.

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More Than Just Korean Word for Dad: Family Members on Father’s Side

Are you up to expanding your vocabulary even more? Because we’re ready to help you with that! In Korean kinship, there are numerous relationships and terms for them. So, since we’re talking about Dad now, here are the names of most of the relatives on father’s side.

• 할아버지 [ha-la-beo-ji] – Grandfather.

할아버지께서는 매일 아침 산책을 하십니다. (Hal-abeoji-ggeseo-neun maeil achim sanchaek-eul hasimnida.) – Grandfather takes a walk every morning.

할아버지는 저에게 옛날 이야기를 자주 들려주십니다. (Hal-abeoji-neun jeo-e-ge yet-nal i-ya-gi-reul jaju deul-lyeo-ju-sim-ni-da.) – My grandfather often tells me stories from the past.

• 할머니 [hal-meo-ni] – Grandmother.

할머니는 맛있는 음식을 자주 만들어 주십니다. (Halmeoni-neun mas-issneun eum-sik-eul jaju mandeul-eo jusimnida.) – Grandmother often makes delicious food.

할머니는 매일 아침 저에게 뜨거운 차를 만들어 주십니다. (Halmeoni-neun mae-il achim jeo-e-ge tteu-geo-un cha-reul mandeul-eo ju-sim-ni-da.) – My grandmother makes me hot tea every morning.

• 삼촌 [sam-chon] – Uncle (father’s brother).

삼촌은 우리 가족과 함께 여행을 갔습니다. (Samchon-eun uri gajok-gwa hamkke yeohaeng-eul gatsseumnida.) – Uncle went on a trip with our family.

삼촌은 저를 낚시하러 데려가 주셨습니다. (Samchon-eun jeo-reul nak-si-ha-reo de-ryeo-ga ju-syeoss-seum-ni-da.) – My uncle took me fishing.

• 큰아버지 [keun-ah-beo-ji] – Uncle (father’s older brother).

큰아버지께서는 회사에서 중요한 직책을 맡고 계십니다. (Keun-abeoji-ggeseo-neun hoesae-seo jung-yo-han jikchek-eul matgo gyesimnida.) – My uncle holds an important position at his company.

큰아버지는 항상 저를 응원해 주십니다. (Keun-abeoji-neun hangsang jeo-reul eung-won-hae ju-sim-ni-da.) – My uncle always supports me.

• 작은아버지 [ja-geun-ah-beo-ji] – Uncle (father’s younger brother).

 작은아버지는 유머 감각이 뛰어나십니다. (Jageun-abeoji-neun yumeo gamgak-i ttu-i-eo-nasimnida.) – My uncle has a great sense of humor.

작은아버지는 요리를 매우 잘 하십니다. (Jageun-abeoji-neun yo-ri-reul maeu jal ha-sim-ni-da.) – My uncle is a very good cook.

• 숙모 [suk-mo] – Aunt (wife of father’s brother).

숙모는 항상 우리를 따뜻하게 맞아 주십니다. (Sukmo-neun hangsang urireul ttatteuthage maja jusimnida.) – Aunt always welcomes us warmly.

숙모는 저에게 뜨개질을 가르쳐 주셨습니다. (Sukmo-neun jeo-e-ge tteu-gae-jil-eul ga-reu-chyeo ju-syeoss-seum-ni-da.) – My aunt taught me how to knit.

• 큰어머니 [keun-eo-meo-ni] – Aunt (wife of your father’s older brother).

큰어머니는 요리를 매우 잘 하십니다. (Keun-eomeoni-neun yorireul maeu jal hasimnida.) – My aunt cooks very well.

큰어머니는 항상 우리에게 과일을 주십니다. (Keun-eomeoni-neun hangsang uri-e-ge gwa-il-eul ju-sim-ni-da.) – My aunt always gives us fruit.

• 작은어머니 [ja-geun-eo-meo-ni] – Aunt (wife of your father’s younger brother).

작은어머니는 항상 우리에게 친절하십니다. (Jageun-eomeoni-neun hangsang uri-ege chinjeolhasimnida.) – My aunt is always kind to us.

작은어머니는 집안을 깨끗하게 유지하십니다. (Jageun-eomeoni-neun jib-an-eul kkae-kkeut-ha-ge yu-ji-ha-sim-ni-da.) – My aunt keeps the house very clean.

• 고모 [go-mo] – Aunt (father’s sister).

고모는 우리 가족에게 종종 선물을 보내 주십니다. (Gomo-neun uri gajok-ege jongjong seonmul-eul bonae jusimnida.) – Aunt often sends gifts to our family.

고모는 저에게 재미있는 이야기를 많이 해 주십니다. (Gomo-neun jeo-e-ge jae-mi-iss-neun i-ya-gi-reul manh-i hae ju-sim-ni-da.) – My aunt tells me many interesting stories.

• 큰고모 [keun-go-mo] – Aunt (father's older sister).

큰고모는 농장에서 일하십니다. (Keun-gomo-neun nongjang-eseo ilhasimnida.) – My aunt works on a farm.

큰고모는 요가 강사로 일하십니다. (Keun-gomo-neun yo-ga gang-sa-ro il-ha-sim-ni-da.) – My aunt works as a yoga instructor.

• 작은고모 [ja-geun-go-mo] – Aunt (father’s younger sister).

작은고모는 미술 선생님이십니다. (Jageun-gomo-neun misul seonsaengnim-isimnida.) – My aunt is an art teacher.

작은고모는 항상 웃는 얼굴로 맞아 주십니다. (Jageun-gomo-neun hangsang us-neun eol-gul-lo ma-ja ju-sim-ni-da.) – My aunt always greets me with a smiling face.

• 고모부 [go-mo-bu] – Uncle (husband of father’s sister).

고모부는 매우 유머러스하십니다. (Gomobu-neun maeu yumeoreoseu-hasimnida.) – My uncle is very humorous.

고모부는 사진 찍기를 좋아하십니다. (Gomobu-neun sa-jin jjik-gi-reul jo-a-hasim-ni-da.) – My uncle enjoys taking photographs.

Meeting the In-Laws

Now you know how to address your father in Korean informal and formal speeches. But how can you address your partner’s? There are also several words for that, depending on the side. When talking about the father-in-law on the husband’s side, you can call them either 아버님 (abeonim) or 시아버지 (siabeoji). In the case of the wife’s side, you can address your in-law using the term 장인 (jangin).

Celebrating the Day of the Dad in Korea: All You Need to Know

Unlike many other countries, where Mother’s and Father’s Day are separate celebrations, in Korea, they are merged into one holiday, Parents’ Day. Since 1973, it has been celebrated on May 8th annually, and it is the time for children to express their gratitude, honor, and appreciation to their parents. 

One of the main traditions of this day is giving parents red or pink carnation flowers as a symbol of love and respect. Typically, children pin those flowers on their parents’ clothes. And, of course, it is time for family gatherings, where all family members meet to enjoy traditional meals and each other’s company.

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The Promova app is available for both iOS and Android devices. You can conveniently download it from both Google Play and the App Store. So what are you waiting for? Get the application now and become one step closer to reaching your linguistic goals!

Conclusion

How do you say dad in Korean? Apparently, there are several options! We hope that with today’s article, you’ll manage to figure out when and where to use each of the three terms and will be able to talk about your father and other dads. And that’s it for now! As usual, we’re looking forward to seeing you in the next article!