How to say “Grandpa” in Korean
- 할아버지harabeoji
grandpa
"Grandpa" in Korean is 할아버지 (harabeoji). It is used for your own grandfather and also as a polite way to address any elderly man. Add 친 for your father's side and 외 for your mother's side.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 할아버지 harabeoji | Any | Grandpa or grandfather. Also used for any elderly man. |
| 친할아버지 chinharabeoji | Any | Grandfather on your father's side. |
| 외할아버지 oeharabeoji | Any | Grandfather on your mother's side. |
| 할아버님 harabeonim | Formal | An extra-respectful form, used for someone else's grandfather. |
| 할배 halbae | Casual | A dialect word from the Gyeongsang region. Warm and folksy. |
Examples
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Saying good night to your grandfather
Talking about your grandfather
Wishing him a happy birthday
Tips
Use honorific words with grandparents: 생신 instead of 생일 for birthday, 주무시다 instead of 자다 for sleep. It shows real respect.
할아버지 is pronounced "ha-ra-beo-ji" because the ㄹ sound links into the next syllable.
Koreans politely call any elderly man 할아버지, so you will hear it on the street and in shops.
More on 할아버지 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
What does oeharabeoji mean?
외할아버지 (oeharabeoji) is your mother's father.
Why is it spelled harabeoji and not halabeoji?
When ㄹ comes before a vowel it sounds like a light r, so 할아버지 sounds like "harabeoji."
How do I say good night to my grandpa in Korean?
Say 할아버지 안녕히 주무세요 (harabeoji annyeonghi jumuseyo). It is the respectful way to say good night to elders.