Korean · A1 (Beginner)
Family in Korean: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Korean words for family are 아버지 (Father), 어머니 (Mother) and 오빠 (Older brother (female speaking)). The full Korean family phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Korean vocabulary for family, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Korean to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Korean curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key family vocabulary
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 아버지 | Father |
| 어머니 | Mother |
| 오빠 | Older brother (female speaking) |
| 남동생 | Younger brother |
| 언니 | Older sister (female speaking) |
| 여동생 | Younger sister |
| 할아버지 | Grandfather |
| 할머니 | Grandmother |
| 아이 | Child |
| 가족 | Family |
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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