Korean Family Titles
동서
dongseo · Sibling-in-law by marriage (spouses of siblings)
Relationship
my husband's brother → his wife (or my wife's sister → her husband)
Who uses it
Wives of brothers to each other; also husbands of sisters to each other.
When you call them
The wife of the older brother is called 형님; the younger one is called 동서.
When you talk about them
To others, 동서 or 손위 동서·손아래 동서.
Example
동서, 전은 내가 부칠게.Dongseo, I'll fry the jeon.
Based on the standard etiquette of the National Institute of Korean Language; families and regions vary.
Frequently asked questions
What does 동서 (dongseo) mean in Korean?
동서 (dongseo) means sibling-in-law by marriage (spouses of siblings) — in family-tree terms, my husband's brother → his wife (or my wife's sister → her husband).
Who says 동서, and about whom?
Wives of brothers to each other; also husbands of sisters to each other.
How do you address your sibling-in-law by marriage (spouses of siblings) in Korean?
The wife of the older brother is called 형님; the younger one is called 동서.
How do you refer to your sibling-in-law by marriage (spouses of siblings) when talking to others?
To others, 동서 or 손위 동서·손아래 동서.
What is an example sentence with 동서?
“동서, 전은 내가 부칠게.” means “Dongseo, I'll fry the jeon.”