noun
ajumma
uh-JUU-muh
Ajumma (noun) means a married, middle-aged Korean woman, sometimes used as a respectful or familiar form of address. Example: “The ajumma running the corner shop always gives us extra side dishes.”
noun
1
A married, middle-aged Korean woman, sometimes used as a respectful or familiar form of address.
"Knowing that an ajumma would always be within arm's reach, like a Korean fairy godmother, traveling further afield grew less daunting."
— Julia M. Adler, I owe a debt of gratitude to Seoul’s no-nonsense guardian angels (2018)
"Turns out crocheting these scrubbers is a pastime among certain Korean ajummas, who love to give them away as gifts."
— Lauren Ro, I Can't Stop Buying Sparkly Korean Dish Scrubbers (2023)
"The ajumma running the corner shop always gives us extra side dishes."
How to use ajumma
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Korean term for a middle-aged married woman, similar in feel to "auntie" or "ma'am" in English.
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Word forms
- Plural
- ajummas
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Can you complete this real example?
The _____ running the corner shop always gives us extra side dishes.
Etymology
Borrowed from Korean 아줌마 (ajumma).
Rhymes for ajumma
See all rhymes for ajumma →Frequently asked questions
What does “ajumma” mean?
The word “ajumma” means a married, middle-aged Korean woman, sometimes used as a respectful or familiar form of address. In plain terms, a Korean term for a middle-aged married woman, similar in feel to "auntie" or "ma'am" in English.
How do you pronounce “ajumma”?
“Ajumma” is pronounced uh-JUU-muh (/əˈd͡ʒʊmə/ in IPA).
How do you use “ajumma” in a sentence?
Here is “ajumma” used in a sentence: “The ajumma running the corner shop always gives us extra side dishes.”
What part of speech is “ajumma”?
“Ajumma” is a noun.
Where does the word “ajumma” come from?
The word “ajumma” comes from Korean. Borrowed from Korean 아줌마 (ajumma).
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