Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
oppa

oppa

1 9.9
A word Korean women use for an older man they know well, like a brother or boyfriend
  • noun
  • /ˈɑːpɑː/
  • Informal
: oppa
  • Whenever I go out of the house, they always ask mom, "Where's oppa?"

Examples

  • I love to see our oppa Sukki very happy; he was so happy here.

    Blog text (34)

  • You're really treating your Oppa so well.

    The Visit (2023)

  • 'Oppa' is originally the appellation a woman calls her elder brother, but it's generally used for women to call their older male friends as well.

    Blog text (14)

  • I went up to her and excitedly greeted her, but she responded back with a simple, 'Oppa, have you been well?' in a very nonchalant way.

    Blog text (29)

  • It took me a year to become chummy with Kim Jong Kook oppa.

    Blog text (14)

  • I went up to her and excitedly greeted her, but she responded back with, 'Oppa, have you been well?'

  • Sooro oppa has quite a lot to say today.

Antonyms

unnie
  • UK
1 9.9

In Korean, a word a younger woman uses to call an older sister or older woman friend

Surface Forms

oppa singular
oppa plural

Etymology

Oppa comes from Korean and means 'older brother', so a woman uses it for an older male she is close to. That's why oppa can mean an older brother, a close older friend, or a boyfriend — like calling someone 'big brother' or 'bro' in English.