아주머니

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Jīlín lèishì (鷄林類事 / 계림유사), 1103, as Late Old Korean 丫子彌 (Yale: *àcómí).

In the Hangul script, first attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 아ᄌᆞ〮미〮 (Yale: àcómí).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [a̠d͡ʑumʌ̹ni]
• Phonetic hangul: [아주머니]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ajumeoni
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ajumeoni
McCune–Reischauer?	ajumŏni
Yale Romanization?	acwumeni

Noun

아주머니 • (ajumeoni)

1. a woman of one's parents' age
2. (by a man) the wife of an older man
3. ma'am, madam

Usage notes

Highly respectful when used appropriately.

Coordinate terms

• 아줌마 (ajumma, “lady”) (familiar/disrespectful)
• 아저씨 (ajeossi, “older man”)