What does 누나 (noona) mean?
- 누나noona
Older sister (said by males)
Casual: friends and people younger than you
누나 (noona) means "older sister" and is used by boys and men to talk to or about an older female. Besides real sisters, guys use it for older female friends, coworkers they are close to, and older female fans or celebrities.
Where it comes from
누나 is a native Korean family word. The respectful form is 누님.
How to use 누나
Only males say 누나. A girl or woman calls an older female 언니 (unnie). You can use 누나 alone or after a name, like 수진 누나.
It sounds friendly and a little affectionate. Younger male idols often call older fans 누나, and a man dating an older woman may call her 누나.
Do not use it for a woman much older than you, such as someone your mother's age, or in formal situations.
Examples
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Asking an older friend for help
Seeing an older coworker leave
Sharing family news
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 누나야 | Noona! (calling) | Affectionate calling form. |
| 누님 | older sister (respectful) | Honorific form, sometimes used playfully. |
| 친누나 | my biological older sister | Makes clear you mean a real sister. |
| 누나들 | older sisters / noonas | Plural. |
Hear it in songs
Real lines from songs broken down on Hanbok. Open a song to see every line explained.
Questions learners ask
Can a girl say noona?
No. Females call an older female 언니 (unnie). 누나 is only used by males.
Is noona romantic?
Not by itself. It just means older sister. But a man dating an older woman often calls her 누나, so the context decides.