Korean Family Titles Beyond Mom and Dad
After this page, you can use the right Korean title for aunts, uncles, and cousins on either side of the family.
10-Second Answer
Korean has far more specific extended-family words than English's catch-all "aunt," "uncle," and "cousin." Whether a relative is on your mother's or father's side, older or younger, and their gender all change the word — reflecting the same detail-oriented social awareness behind honorifics and age terms elsewhere on this site.
Aunts and Uncles: It Depends on the Side of the Family
| Korean | English | Whose side |
|---|---|---|
| 이모 (imo) | Aunt | Mother's sister |
| 외삼촌 (oesamchon) | Uncle | Mother's brother |
| 고모 (gomo) | Aunt | Father's sister |
| 삼촌 (samchon) | Uncle | Father's brother (also used loosely for any uncle-like man) |
외 (oe-) marks the mother's side of the family throughout Korean kinship terms — 외할머니 (maternal grandmother), 외할아버지 (maternal grandfather) follow the same pattern.
사촌: Cousins
사촌 (sachon) means "cousin" generally — English stops there, but Korean can get more specific with 외사촌 (maternal-side cousin) when the distinction matters. In everyday conversation, plain 사촌 is usually enough.
이모 집에 놀러 가요.
imo jib-e nolleo gayo.
I'm going to visit my aunt's (mom's sister's) house.
사촌이랑 같이 컸어요.
sachon-irang gachi keosseoyo.
I grew up together with my cousin.
Why the Extra Precision?
This mirrors the logic behind 형/오빠/누나/언니 and the Korean age system: Korean grammar and vocabulary consistently encode exactly WHO someone is in relation to you and the family structure, rather than flattening relationships into a few generic categories the way English does.
Casual, Non-Family Use of 이모/삼촌
Just like 언니 gets used for shop staff, 이모 and 삼촌 extend to non-family adults too — restaurant workers, family friends, neighborhood shopkeepers. Calling a restaurant owner 이모 is warm and completely normal, not a literal family claim.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Using one generic word for all aunts/uncles
Unlike English, the side of the family and gender genuinely change the word — 이모 and 고모 are not interchangeable.
Mistake #2 — Missing the 외- prefix pattern
외- consistently marks the mother's side across many kinship terms — recognizing it helps you decode new family words you haven't seen yet.
Mini Quiz
1. What is 이모?
2. What does the prefix 외- generally mark?
3. Can you call a restaurant owner 이모 even if she's not your aunt?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
Korean Honorific Verbs: 드시다, 계시다, 주무시다
You've expanded your family vocabulary — these are the special respectful verbs you'd use talking about any elder relative.
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.