What does 이모 (imo) mean?
- 이모imo
Aunt (mom's sister)
Fine in most situations
이모 (imo) means "aunt," specifically your mother's sister. Koreans also use 이모 as a friendly way to call a middle-aged woman working at a restaurant or market.
Where it comes from
이모 is a Sino-Korean family word for a mother's sister. Your father's sister has a different title, 고모.
How to use 이모
In the family, 이모 is only for your mother's sisters. Kids also call their mother's close female friends 이모, which feels warm and familiar.
At casual restaurants, customers often call the server or owner, usually a middle-aged woman, 이모. It sounds friendly and homey. 이모님 is a more polite version, also used for nannies and housekeepers.
Do not call a young woman 이모 in a restaurant. For younger staff, 저기요 (excuse me) is safer.
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Asking for water at a casual restaurant
Telling a friend about a birthday gift
Calling your aunt on the phone
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 고모 | aunt (dad's sister) | For your father's sister. |
| 이모님 | auntie (polite) | Polite form for restaurant staff, nannies and caregivers. |
| 이모부 | uncle (imo's husband) | Your 이모's husband. |
Questions learners ask
Why do Koreans call restaurant ladies imo?
Calling the server 이모 makes the restaurant feel like a family kitchen. It is friendly and common at casual places, especially with middle-aged women.
What is the difference between imo and gomo?
이모 is your mother's sister and 고모 is your father's sister.