Pronouns
I, you, he and she, and their short forms.
Korean uses pronouns less than English. "I" and "you" are left out whenever the context makes them clear, and "you" in particular is usually replaced by a name or a title.
| Plain | Polite (humble) | |
|---|---|---|
| I | 나 na | 저 jeo |
| my | 내 nae | 제 je |
| I (subject, with 가) | 내가 naega | 제가 jega |
| we | 우리 uri | 저희 jeohui |
| you | 너 neo | (a name or title) |
| your | 네 ne, said 니 ni |
I: 저 or 나
Use 저 with anyone you speak to politely: strangers, older people, colleagues. 나 is for friends, younger people and family. 저 and 나 become 제 and 내 before 가, and 제 and 내 also mean "my".
- je ireumeun jisuyeyo.My name is Jisu.
- naega galge.I'll go.
You
너 "you" is only for close friends, younger people and children. 당신 is used between spouses, in songs and adverts, and in arguments; to a stranger it sounds rude. To speak to someone politely, use their name with 씨, their title, or nothing:
- minsu ssi, eodi gayo?Minsu, where are you going?
- seonsaengnimeun keopi deuseyo?Do you drink coffee?to a teacher
- ireumi mwoyeyo?What's your name?
He, she and they
Speech uses "that person" rather than a pronoun: 그 사람 geu saram, or politely 그분 geubun. Among friends, 걔 gyae "that kid" means a friend or younger person not present. Written Korean has 그 "he" and 그녀 "she", which are rare in speech. "They" is the same with 들: 그 사람들, 그분들.
- geu sarameun hoesawonieyo.He's an office worker.
Our: 우리
우리 "we, our" is also how Koreans say "my" for things shared with others: family, home, school, country. 우리 엄마 "my mom", 우리 집 "my home" (and the family in it), 우리 회사 "my company".
- uri eommaneun seonsaengnimieyo.My mom is a teacher.
Cards from this guide
8 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Nouns and sentences cards.
Which word for 'I' do you use with a stranger: 저 or 나?
저.
How do you say 'my name' politely?
제 이름.
How do you say 'we' politely, as when speaking for your company to a customer?
저희 (jeohui).
Is 당신 a polite way to say 'you' to a stranger?
No: it can sound rude. Use the person's name with 씨, their title, or nothing.
Who can you call 너 (you)?
Close friends, younger people and children.
How do you usually say 'he' in speech?
그 사람 (that person), or politely 그분.
How do Koreans usually say 'my mom'?
우리 엄마: 'our mom'.
How do you call someone named Minsu politely?
민수 씨.