What does 언니 (unnie) mean?
- 언니unnie
Older sister (said by females)
Casual: friends and people younger than you
언니 (unnie) means "older sister" and is used by girls and women to talk to or about an older female. Besides real sisters, women use it for older female friends, coworkers they are close to, and female idols.
Where it comes from
언니 is a native Korean family word with no smaller parts. The official romanization is "eonni", but "unnie" is the spelling most fans use.
How to use 언니
Only females say 언니. A boy or man calls an older female 누나 (noona). You can use 언니 by itself or after a first name, like 지수 언니.
It sounds friendly and warm. Women often switch to 언니 once they feel close to an older woman, even if they met only recently. Some women also call female shop or restaurant staff 언니 in a casual, friendly way.
Avoid it in formal settings or with someone much older, such as a woman your mother's age.
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Shopping with an older friend
Telling a friend your weekend plans
Bragging about your sister
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 언니야 | Unnie! (calling) | Affectionate calling form. |
| 친언니 | my biological older sister | Used to make clear you mean a real sister. |
| 큰언니 | oldest sister | For the eldest of several sisters. |
| 언니들 | older sisters / unnies | 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 guy say unnie?
No. Males call an older female 누나 (noona). 언니 is only used by females.
Is it unnie or eonni?
Both spell the same word, 언니. "Eonni" follows official romanization, while "unnie" and "unni" are the spellings fans see most.
Can I call a stranger unnie?
Some women call female staff 언니 in casual places, but with strangers it is safer to use polite speech without a family title.