HI DANIEL'S MUM!

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Originally Posted by Kossage

I just call them by their first names. :)

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Me too. We don't really use the whole Sir/Ma'am thing in Denmark.. I guess we're kinda rude in that way :bigsmile:

Anyway, if I know the parents I usually have a small/more lenghty chat with them depending on how much I know them and stuff. Most parents are really nice, and in my experience if you're just commonly polite and/or helpful they'll end up really liking you :D

I call them by their first names.=/

Friend's parents = always always always Mr/Mrs. Somethingsomething.

I cannot bring myself to address them by their first name. It's just so foreign to me. I can't make myself address my boyfriend's parents by their first names even though they said I could. Just can't do it! Oh my god, and just imagining the reaction of my mom or dad's face should my boyfriend or any of my friends address them by their first name is bizarre. I think they would just stare and stare and then be like, "excuse me?"

In Korean, not only do you never address an older person or parent by their first name, there's a special way of speaking that you have to use when you're speaking to older people. Even if the person is a year older than you, you have to use the special form of speech with them until you become really familiar with that person. And even then, with elders you always should use the "formal" speech as a sign of respect. And then there are all sorts of titles that you use when addressing different people. Everyone has titles. There are titles for older sister, younger sister, older Aunt on Dad's side, older Aunt on Mom's side, etc. You only use first names with people within a few years age difference with you, or people younger than you.

I didn't know what to call my maternal grandparents to their faces, so until I was like 12 or so, I called them 'you' or phrased it where I didn't have to say a subject noun. Then I nervously used the word 'grandma' and 'grandpa' for the first time.

My paternal grandparents were always grandpa floyd and granny sue though. I don't know why I had trouble with grandma mary and grandpa bill.

I use Mr., Mrs., Ms. etc

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Originally Posted by Miriel

Friend's parents = always always always Mr/Mrs. Somethingsomething.

I cannot bring myself to address them by their first name. It's just so foreign to me. I can't make myself address my boyfriend's parents by their first names even though they said I could. Just can't do it! Oh my god, and just imagining the reaction of my mom or dad's face should my boyfriend or any of my friends address them by their first name is bizarre. I think they would just stare and stare and then be like, "excuse me?"

In Korean, not only do you never address an older person or parent by their first name, there's a special way of speaking that you have to use when you're speaking to older people. Even if the person is a year older than you, you have to use the special form of speech with them until you become really familiar with that person. And even then, with elders you always should use the "formal" speech as a sign of respect. And then there are all sorts of titles that you use when addressing different people. Everyone has titles. There are titles for older sister, younger sister, older Aunt on Dad's side, older Aunt on Mom's side, etc. You only use first names with people within a few years age difference with you, or people younger than you.

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I like systems of honorifics like that. I kind of wish we had them here. It's classy!

When I talk to my best friend's Mom I say, "Hi Sweetpea's Mom".