Lesson 5 · Beginner 1 · A1
Family & People
가족
Family words are among the most used words in Korean, and they appear constantly in K-dramas and K-pop. Korean family terms change depending on whether the speaker is male or female, so this lesson explains exactly who says what.
🎯 Learning goals
After this lesson you will be able to:
- Talk about your family members
- Say what you have and do not have
💬 Key phrases
가족
gajok
family
엄마 / 어머니
eomma / eomeoni
mom / mother
아빠 / 아버지
appa / abeoji
dad / father
오빠
oppa
older brother (said by a female)
형
hyeong
older brother (said by a male)
언니
eonni
older sister (said by a female)
누나
nuna
older sister (said by a male)
동생
dongsaeng
younger sibling
친구
chingu
friend
가족이 몇 명이에요?
gajogi myeot myeongieyo?
How many people are in your family?
형제가 있어요?
hyeongjega isseoyo?
Do you have siblings?
우리 엄마는 선생님이에요
uri eommaneun seonsaengnimieyo
My mom is a teacher
📐 Grammar
N이/가 있어요 / 없어요
to have / not to have; there is / there isn't
있어요 means "have" or "there is", and 없어요 is its opposite. Mark the noun with 이 after a consonant and 가 after a vowel: 형이 있어요, 누나가 있어요.
| Base form | N이/가 있어요 / 없어요 |
|---|---|
| 동생 | 동생이 있어요 |
| 누나 | 누나가 있어요 |
| 시간 | 시간이 없어요 |
| 차 | 차가 없어요 |
Example
저는 형이 있어요.
jeoneun hyeongi isseoyo.
I have an older brother.
오늘은 시간이 없어요.
oneureun sigani eopseoyo.
I don't have time today.
언니가 두 명 있어요.
eonniga du myeong isseoyo.
I have two older sisters.
🗣 Dialogue
가족이 몇 명이에요?
gajogi myeot myeongieyo?
How many people are in your family?
네 명이에요. 엄마, 아빠, 누나, 그리고 저요.
ne myeongieyo. eomma, appa, nuna, geurigo jeoyo.
Four. Mom, Dad, my older sister and me.
누나는 뭐 해요?
nunaneun mwo haeyo?
What does your sister do?
누나는 간호사예요. 지나 씨는 형제가 있어요?
nunaneun ganhosayeyo. jina ssineun hyeongjega isseoyo?
She's a nurse. Jina, do you have siblings?
네, 남동생이 한 명 있어요.
ne, namdongsaengi han myeong isseoyo.
Yes, I have one younger brother.
우와, 좋겠어요!
uwa, jokesseoyo!
Wow, that sounds nice!
✏️ Grammar practice
Choose the word that completes each sentence.
✅ Quick quiz
Choose the correct meaning.
Updated: November 2026