Meaning and Usage
"어머니" is the formal and respectful Korean word for "mother." It is commonly used in everyday conversation to refer to one's own mother or someone else's mother in a polite way.
Common Contexts
You will hear "어머니" in family settings, when talking about parents, or when addressing or referring to mothers respectfully. It is more formal than "엄마," which is a casual and affectionate term.
Collocations and Patterns
- 어머니께서 (subject particle for honorific) – used when your mother is the subject of the sentence, showing respect.
- 어머니가 만든 (something) – to talk about something made by mother, often food.
- 어머니와 함께 – to express doing something together with mother.
Register and Politeness
"어머니" is polite and respectful. Use it in formal or neutral situations. For casual or intimate conversations, "엄마" is more common.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "어머니" with "어머님," which is a more honorific form used when addressing someone else's mother or in very formal contexts. Use "어머니" for your own mother in polite speech.