Korean uses two different words here: 누나 (said by a male) and 언니 (said by a female). Pick the one that matches who is speaking or what you mean.
Letter by letter: 누나
Korean is written in syllable blocks. Here is what each block of 누나 is made of.
| Block | Letters | Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| 누 | ㄴ + ㅜ | ㄴ n, ㅜ u |
| 나 | ㄴ + ㅏ | ㄴ n, ㅏ a |
New to the letters? Tap through the Hangul chart to hear each one.
How to type it
On a standard Korean keyboard (2-set), press these keys in order:
SㄴNㅜSㄴKㅏ
Practice with the online Korean keyboard, or learn the layout in the typing test.
Learn all the family words with flashcards and a typing quiz on the family in Korean page.
Frequently asked questions
What is "older sister" in Korean?
누나 (nuna); 언니 (eonni).
How do you pronounce 누나?
It sounds like "nuna".
Romanization: Revised Romanization of Korean, with sound changes. Audio: a recorded native-sounding Korean voice.
Last checked: 2026-10-20