Korean Dictionary
How to say "Older sister (said by male)" in Korean
“Older sister (said by male)” in Korean is 누나 (pronounced "Nuna").
누나
Nuna
Usage & Context
A male speaker's older sister, or used affectionately for older female friends. In romantic contexts, some men call their girlfriends 누나 if she is older. Popular in K-dramas where age-gap romances are a common trope. Reflects Korea's strong emphasis on age hierarchies in relationships.
Example Sentence
누나, 제 부탁 하나만 들어줄 수 있어요?
Nuna, could you do me just one favor?
How to use 누나 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Older sister (said by male)” is 누나, romanized as Nuna.
Usage tip
Relationship words can sound too direct if the social context is wrong. Check the age, closeness, and formality before using it.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 누나.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'noo-na' — 'nu' is a short 'noo,' and 'na' is a quick 'nah.' Both syllables light and equal.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
누님
nunim
Respectful, used formally or to older sister figures you respect
Casual (반말)
누나
nuna
Default form, used by males for older females they're close with
More Example Sentences
a younger guy asking his older female friend
누나, 뭐 먹을래?
Nuna, what do you want to eat?
comparing siblings
우리 누나가 더 잘해요.
My older sister is better at it.
eating with an older female friend
누나, 이거 진짜 맛있어요.
Nuna, this is really good.
Cultural Context
누나 is used by males to address older females — biological older sister or older female friend/partner. The '누나 좋아' (I like older women) trope is a recurring theme in Korean pop culture, from variety shows to dating preferences. In a romantic relationship, calling your older girlfriend 누나 is normal and endearing.
Editorial note
We check relationship words like 누나 against age, closeness, and politeness rules, because a literal English match often misses the social meaning.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
누나!
Nuna!
우리 누나예요.
This is my older sister.
누나, 밥 사주세요.
Nuna, buy me a meal.
Related Expressions
누님
nunim
older sister (honorific)
언니
eonni
older sister (said by female)
친누나
chinnuna
biological older sister
동생
dongsaeng
younger sibling
More Relationships Words
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