How to say “older sister” in Korean
- 언니unnie
older sister (said by a woman)
"Older sister" in Korean is 언니 (unnie) if you are female and 누나 (noona) if you are male. The word depends on the speaker's gender, and both are also used for close older women who are not family.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 언니 unnie | Casual | Used by women and girls for an older sister, and also for older female friends or coworkers they are close to. |
| 누나 noona | Casual | Used by men and boys for an older sister, and also for older female friends. |
| 친언니 chineonni | Any | "My actual older sister" (said by a woman). Makes clear you mean a blood relative. |
| 친누나 chinnuna | Any | "My actual older sister" (said by a man). |
| 누님 nunim | Formal | A respectful form of 누나, used by men for an older woman. It sounds formal or playful today. |
Examples
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A woman asking her sister's opinion while shopping
A boy thanking his older sister
A man introducing his family politely
Tips
A woman says 언니 and a man says 누나. It depends on who is speaking, not on the sister.
Women in Korea often call a friendly older woman 언니, and some use it for female staff in shops and restaurants. It feels warm and friendly.
언니 is usually romanized as "unnie" by fans, but the Revised Romanization is "eonni." Both are pronounced the same.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between unnie and noona?
Both mean older sister. Women say 언니 (unnie) and men say 누나 (noona).
Can I call an older friend unnie?
Yes, if you are a woman and you are close. Koreans commonly call older female friends 언니 instead of using their name.
How do you say "my sister" in Korean?
A woman says 우리 언니 for an older sister, a man says 우리 누나, and anyone says 여동생 (yeodongsaeng) for a younger sister.