What Do 엄마 and 아빠 Mean? Mom and Dad in Korean
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · Updated · How we write & review
After this page, you can call your parents 엄마 (eomma) and 아빠 (appa), and switch to 어머니 and 아버지 when the situation calls for it.
10-second answer
What does Eomma and Appa mean?
엄마 (eomma) means "mom" and 아빠 (appa) means "dad" — the everyday, affectionate versions used by children and adults alike. The more formal versions, 어머니 (eomeoni) and 아버지 (abeoji), are used in more serious or respectful contexts, or when talking ABOUT your parents to others.
Quick check — did that land?
1. Do Korean adults commonly still say 엄마/아빠, not just children?
Think Korean adults stop saying 엄마 and 아빠?
Quick Examples
엄마! 나 왔어!
eomma! na wasseo!
Mom! I'm home!
아빠, 저녁 뭐 먹어요?
appa, jeonyeok mwo meogeoyo?
Dad, what's for dinner?
저희 어머니께서는 선생님이세요.
jeohui eomeoni-kkeseoneun seonsaengnim-iseyo.
My mother is a teacher.
Formal register — 어머니 + honorific 께서는, talking ABOUT her to someone else.
A note on spelling. The official romanization of 엄마 is eomma, but you'll also see umma or omma; 아빠 (appa) is sometimes written apa. They're all the same words.
See also: Why Do Koreans Say 우리 (Our)?
엄마/아빠 vs 어머니/아버지
| Form | Feel | When |
|---|---|---|
| 엄마 / 아빠 | Warm, everyday, affectionate | Direct address, casual conversation, any age |
| 어머니 / 아버지 | Respectful, more formal | Introducing them, serious conversations, writing |
Unlike English, where adults often feel a bit self-conscious still saying "mommy/daddy," Korean adults use 엄마/아빠 constantly and naturally their entire lives — it isn't considered childish.
For other people's parents the respectful form changes again: see what to call a friend's mom and dad.
From 엄마 to 어머니 — Plus 어머님, 아버님 and 부모님
Korean children call their parents 엄마 and 아빠. Many Koreans switch to 어머니 and 아버지 as adults, while plenty keep saying 엄마 and 아빠 all their lives — both are normal, and it's a family habit rather than a rule. Calling your own parents 어머니 and 아버지 at home isn't stiff or wrong; it's simply the more grown-up choice. Add -님 and you usually get the words for someone else's parents:
| Word | Who it's for | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 엄마 / 아빠 (eomma / appa) | Your own mom and dad | Children, and many adults at home |
| 어머니 / 아버지 (eomeoni / abeoji) | Your own mother and father | Adults addressing their parents; talking about them politely |
| 어머님 / 아버님 (eomeonim / abeonim) | Usually someone else's parents: a friend's parents, your parents-in-law | Greeting a friend's parents; a husband or wife addressing the spouse's parents |
| 부모님 (bumonim) | "Parents" — the honorific form of 부모 | Talking about anyone's parents — your own or someone else's |
아버님, 안녕하세요. 민호 친구예요.
abeonim, annyeonghaseyo. minho chinguyeyo.
Hello — I'm Minho's friend.
Greeting a friend's father.
부모님은 잘 계세요?
bumonimeun jal gyeseyo?
Are your parents doing well?
계시다 is the honorific form of 있다. The 은 isn't honorific, so it can feel slightly off — though everyday speech isn't that strict. Dropping it is fine: 부모님 잘 계세요? (bumonim jal gyeseyo?, "Are your parents doing well?"). More natural still: 부모님 안녕하시지요? (bumonim annyeonghasijiyo?, "Your parents are well, I hope?")
아버지는 지금 주무세요.
abeojineun jigeum jumuseyo.
My father is sleeping right now.
Talking about a parent politely: the verb becomes honorific too. The 는 is fine, but it's more often dropped: 아버지 지금 주무세요 (abeoji jigeum jumuseyo, "My father is sleeping right now").
Whenever parents are the subject, verbs switch to their honorific forms — 주무시다 (sleep), 드시다 (eat), 계시다 (be) — the set on the honorific verbs page. After marriage, both spouses address their in-laws as 어머님 and 아버님; the rest of those titles are on the in-law titles chart, and aunts, uncles and cousins on extended family titles.
Mistake: 어머님 for your own mom
어머님 and 아버님 are usually for someone else's parents. For your own, use 어머니/아버지 or 엄마/아빠 — and 부모님 works for both. (The dictionary notes that for your own parent, 어머님 mostly appears in letters or for a parent who has passed away.)
우리 엄마, 우리 아빠
As covered on the 우리 ("our") page, Koreans almost always say 우리 엄마 and 우리 아빠 rather than a bare 엄마/아빠 when talking ABOUT their parents, even as an only child. It's the same collective-belonging pattern applied to family.
For what parents actually say around the house, see Korean phrases you'll hear at home.
For the family words that mean baby or small child, see 아기 vs 애기 vs 아가.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Thinking 엄마/아빠 is only for young children
Grown adults use these forms all the time — they aren't "baby talk" in Korean the way they can feel in English.
Mistake #2 — Using 어머니/아버지 exclusively at home
The formal forms can feel distant or overly serious in casual, everyday family conversation — 엄마/아빠 is the warmer, more natural default.
Mistake #3 — Mixing up 엄마 and 어머
어머 (eomeo) sounds close to 엄마 but isn't "mom" at all — it's the startled "oh my!".
Mini Quiz
2 short questions — about 1 minute
2. When is 어머니/아버지 more appropriate than 엄마/아빠?
3. Why do Koreans say 우리 엄마 instead of just 엄마?
Part of Korean Greetings & Everyday Politeness — The Survival Set
Part of Essential Korean Vocabulary: Numbers, Days, Months & Colors
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
What Does 하고/와/과 Mean? "And" in Korean
Basic family vocabulary is covered — this connecting word lets you list multiple people or things together.
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