The meaning of 우리 (uri) in Korean

If you're learning Korean or enjoy Korean dramas, you've probably heard expressions like 우리 엄마 (uri eomma, "our mom") or 우리 집 (uri jip, "our house") being used.

But you might also be wondering: if 우리 (uri) literally means "our," why do Koreans say 우리 엄마 instead of 내 엄마 (nae eomma, "my mom")?

The key is 우리 (uri)

In Korean, 우리 means way more than just "our." We also use it when talking about people or things we feel close to or that are part of our lives.

Korean culture also places a lot of importance on community and a sense of belonging, and this is reflected in the way we speak.

That's why we say 우리 엄마 to mean "my mom," even if you and I aren't siblings!

What does 우리 (uri) mean?

우리 (uri) is a first-person plural pronoun. On its own, it means "we." Before a noun, it functions as a possessive and means "our."

For example:

Not too tricky so far. The interesting part is that in many everyday expressions, 우리 translates into English as "my."

How does 우리 compare with other first-person pronouns?

To make this clearer, let's compare 우리 with the other first-person pronouns.

There's one more thing you need to know: 나 and 저 mean "I," but to say "my," we normally use 내 in informal contexts and 제 in formal contexts.

For example:

• 나 (I, informal) → 내 (my, informal) → 내 가방 ("my bag")
• 저 (I, formal) → 제 (my, formal) → 제 가방 ("my bag")

So 우리 and 내 aren't just two different ways to say "my." They aren't used in exactly the same way.

Why do people say 우리 엄마 (uri eomma, "our mom") instead of 내 엄마 (nae eomma, "my mom")?

Although 우리 literally means "our," 우리 엄마 is a very natural way to talk about your own mother.

It doesn't mean that you and the person you're speaking to have the same mother. The expression is used to emphasize your relationship and sense of closeness rather than possession.

Is 우리 only used with family?

No. 우리 can be used with many people, places, and groups we feel connected to.

There's also one particularly common and important expression:

우리나라 is the usual expression Koreans use to refer to South Korea.

In this case, 우리나라 is written as one word because it is an established expression referring to South Korea.

In contrast, someone from another country can use 우리 나라 (uri nara), written as two words, to refer to their own country.

What about 저희 (jeohui, "we," formal)?

As we saw in the table above, 저희 is the more formal, polite form of 우리. We use it to refer to our group while showing respect to the person we're speaking to, especially in formal situations.

But when we talk about our country, we don't use 저희. Even in formal situations, 우리나라 or 우리 나라 are the natural choice, because there is no hierarchy to relay.

Frequently asked questions about 우리 (uri)

Does 우리 엄마 (uri eomma) mean "our mom"?

Yes, if you and I are siblings. If we aren't, it is used to mean "my mom," because of the sense of closeness and belonging expressed by 우리 (uri).

Does 우리 (uri) mean "we" or "our"?

Both translations are correct. On its own, it means "we," and before a noun, it means "our."

Can 우리 (uri) and 내 (nae) be used interchangeably?

No. Although both sometimes translate as "my," they aren't always used in the same situations.

What is the difference between 우리 (uri) and 저희 (jeohui)?

저희 is the more formal, polite form of 우리. It is used to show respect to the person you're speaking to.

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