noun
noona
NOO-nuh
noun
1
A Korean term used by a man to affectionately address an older sister or older female friend.
"He always calls his older cousin "noona" out of respect."
How to Use Noona
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA respectful, affectionate Korean word a younger man uses for an older woman close to him.
When to use it
Increasingly used in English by fans of Korean pop culture and dramas.
Word Forms
noonas plural
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He always calls his older cousin "_____" out of respect.
Etymology
Borrowed from Korean 누나 (nuna), meaning "older sister of a man."