How to say “teacher” in Korean
- 선생님seonsaengnim
teacher
"Teacher" in Korean is 선생님 (seonsaengnim). Students use it both to talk about a teacher and to call them directly, and the respectful ending 님 is always included.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 선생님 seonsaengnim | Polite | The standard way to say and address a teacher. Also used for doctors and other respected professionals. |
| 쌤 ssaem | Casual | A friendly, shortened form students use with teachers they are close to, like "teach." Common in schools and online classes. |
| 교수님 gyosunim | Formal | Professor. Used at university instead of 선생님. |
| 선생 seonsaeng | Any | The word without 님. Fine in writing or job titles, but calling a teacher just 선생 to their face is rude. |
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Raising your hand in class
A student thanking a teacher after class
Introducing your Korean teacher
Tips
In Korea you do not call a teacher by their first name. Say 선생님 alone, or their family name plus 선생님, like 김 선생님 (Teacher Kim).
선생님 is also a respectful title for doctors, artists and other experts, so you will hear it in hospitals too.
쌤 is friendly but casual. Use 선생님 until a teacher seems happy with the shorter form.
More on 선생님 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
What does ssaem mean?
쌤 is a casual, shortened form of 선생님 (teacher) used by students.
Can I call my teacher by name in Korean?
Not by their first name. Use 선생님, or their family name plus 선생님, like 박 선생님.
What do you call a professor in Korean?
교수님 (gyosunim).