우리
An only child says “우리 엄마”: “our mom.” A man talks about “우리 집”: “our house”, even if he lives alone. For English speakers it sounds strange; in Korean it is perfectly normal.
What does it mean?
우리 (uri) means “we” or “our.” But with family, home, school, company and country, Korean often uses 우리 where English says “my.” It shows belonging to a group rather than personal ownership.
우리 or 내?
People and places you belong to take 우리. Personal belongings usually take 내 (nae, my).
When do Koreans use it?
- Family. 우리 엄마, 우리 형, even when you are an only child.
- Home and hometown. 우리 집 (my home), 우리 동네 (my neighborhood).
- Groups. 우리 회사, 우리 학교: your company or school.
- Country. 우리나라: how Koreans often say “Korea.”
How it sounds: examples
우리 엄마는 요리를 잘해요.
Uri eommaneun yorireul jalhaeyo.
“My mom is a good cook.”
우리 집에 놀러 와.
Uri jibe nolleo wa.
“Come over to my place.”
우리 회사는 금요일에 일찍 끝나요.
Uri hoesaneun geumyoire iljjik kkeunnayo.
“My company finishes early on Fridays.”
Pronunciation tip
우 + 리: “oo-ree.” The ㄹ between vowels is a light tap of the tongue, like the “tt” in American “butter,” not an English “r.”
Keep 우 rounded and short: not “you,” but “oo.”
The nuance
우리 turns ownership into belonging. Saying “my mom” in Korean (내 엄마) can sound unusually possessive or emphatic, as if you are contrasting her with someone else’s mother.
Be careful
To elders or outsiders, polite speech often uses 저희 (jeohui, humble “our”) instead: 저희 회사, 저희 집. And for your own things (phone, bag, room) use 내 or 제.
Similar words: what’s the difference?
Quick check: An only child says “우리 엄마.” Does she have siblings?
Not necessarily. Here 우리 works like “my.”