Names of the Months in Korean: Extensive Cheat Sheet

If you listen to native speakers talking, you’ll see that their speech is actually simple and understandable. That is why, in addition to learning tricky pronunciation and intricate terms or some Korean slang, you also shouldn’t underestimate the power of knowing simple things like the date format or names of the months in Korean. And that’s exactly what we’re going to discuss today! 

Korean Date Format Basics

How do you typically write a date? Let us take a wild guess and say that it’s probably dd.mm.yyyy or mm.dd.yyyy. So, for example, if you’re putting the 14th of July 2024 in the text, you write 14.07.2024 or 07.14.2024. Simple enough.

Yet, the Korean date format differs from the ones above and looks like that: yyyy.mm.dd. So, in written format, our date will look like 2024년 7월 14일.

But wait. There are still not only numbers but Hangul symbols, too. Huh? Don’t worry! That’s exactly how it is supposed to be with Sino-Korean numbers. And what are they? Let’s figure it out!

How to Say Dates in Korean: Introducing Sino-Korean Numbers

We don’t know if you’re ready to hear it (or maybe you know it already), but Koreans actually have two number systems. The first one is called Sino-Korean, and this is the one we’ll focus more on in this article, and the second one is native Korean. 

• Sino-Korean numbers

These are essential to know before learning how to write date in Korean. The numbers originally came from the Chinese characters. In Korean, they sound like this:

1 – 일 (il).

2 – 이 (i).

3 – 삼 (sam).

4 – 사 (sa).

5 – 오 (o).

6 – 육 (yuk).

7 – 칠 (chil).

8 – 팔 (pal).

9 – 구 (gu).

10 – 십 (sip).

• Native Korean numbers

These are modern Korean numbers that are used for counting objects, people, etc. As opposite to Sino-Korean, these only go up to 99.

1 – 하나 (hana).

2 – 둘 (dul).

3 – 셋 (set).

4 – 넷 (net).

5 – 다섯 (daseot).

6 – 여섯 (yeoseot).

7 – 일곱 (ilgop).

8 – 여덟 (yeodeol).

9 – 아홉 (ahop).

10 – 열 (yeol).

Exploring Months of the Year in Korean

Another fun thing about Korean words is that they actually don’t have specific names for months (no Januaries and Februaries like we’re used to). Instead, they just use a simple pattern: Sino-Korean number + the word “month.” As a result, we get “the first month,” “the second month,” etc. Here’s the complete list for you.

• 1월 – il-wol – January in Korean.

1월은 새해의 시작입니다. (il-wol-eun saehae-ui sijak-imnida) – January is the beginning of the new year.

1월에 많은 사람들이 새해 결심을 합니다. (il-wol-e maneun saramdeuri saehae gyeolsim-eul hamnida) – Many people make New Year’s resolutions in January.

• 2월 – i-wol – February in Korean.

2월에는 발렌타인 데이가 있습니다. (i-wol-eneun ballenta-in deiga isseumnida) – There is Valentine’s Day in February.

2월은 한 해의 가장 짧은 달입니다. (i-wol-eun han haeyeui gajang jjalb-eun dal-imnida) – February is the shortest month of the year.

• 3월 – sam-wol – March in Korean.

3월에는 봄이 시작됩니다. (sam-wol-eneun bom-i sijakdoemnida) – Spring begins in March.

3월에 많은 꽃이 피기 시작합니다. (sam-wol-e maneun kkoch-i pigi sijakhamnida) – Many flowers start to bloom in March.

• 4월 – sa-wol – April in Korean.

4월은 벚꽃이 피는 달입니다. (sa-wol-eun beotkkoch-i pineun dal-imnida) – April is the month when cherry blossoms bloom.

4월에는 날씨가 따뜻해집니다. (sa-wol-eneun nalssi-ga ttatteushaejimnida) – The weather becomes warm in April.

• 5월 – o-wol – May in Korean.

5월에는 꽃이 만발합니다. (o-wol-eneun kkoch-i manbalhamnida) – Flowers are in full bloom in May.

5월은 가정의 달로 불립니다. (o-wol-eun gajeong-ui dall-o bullimnida) – May is called the month of family.

• 6월 – yuk-wol – June in Korean.

6월에는 날씨가 더워지기 시작합니다. (yuk-wol-eneun nalssi-ga deowojigi sijakhamnida) – The weather starts to get hot in June.

6월에는 여름 방학이 시작됩니다. (yuk-wol-eneun yeoreum banghag-i sijakdoemnida) – Summer vacation begins in June.

• 7월 – chil-wol – July in Korean.

7월에는 여름이 절정에 달합니다. (chil-wol-eneun yeoreum-i jeoljeong-e dalhamnida) – Summer reaches its peak in July.

7월에는 바다로 여행을 많이 갑니다. (chil-wol-eneun badalo yeohaeng-eul mani gamnida) – Many people travel to the sea in July.

• 8월 – pal-wol – August in Korean.

8월에는 한국의 광복절이 있습니다. (pal-wol-eneun Hangug-ui Gwangbokjeol-i itsseumnida.) – August is South Korea’s National Liberation Day.

8월에는 태풍이 자주 옵니다. (pal-wol-eneun taepung-i jaju omnida) – Typhoons often come in August.

• 9월 – gu-wol – September in Korean.

9월에는 추석을 기념합니다. (gu-wol-eneun chuseok-eul ginyeomhapnida) – Chuseok is celebrated in September.

9월에는 날씨가 시원해집니다. (gu-wol-eneun nalssi-ga siwonhaejimnida) – The weather becomes cooler in September.

• 10월 – sip-wol – October in Korean.

10월에는 단풍이 아름답습니다. (sip-wol-eneun danpung-i areumdabseumnida) – The autumn leaves are beautiful in October.

10월에는 많은 축제가 열립니다. (sip-wol-eneun maneun chukje-ga yeollimnida) – Many festivals are held in October.

• 11월 – sip-il-wol – November in Korean.

11월에는 대학수학능력시험이 있습니다. (sip-il-wol-eneun daehagsuhangneungnyeok-siheom-i issseumnida) – The college entrance exam is in November.

11월에는 낙엽이 많이 떨어집니다. (sip-il-wol-eneun nag-yeob-i mani tteoreojimnida) – Many leaves fall in November.

• 12월 – sip-i-wol – December in Korean.

12월에는 연말 모임이 많습니다. (sip-i-wol-eneun yeonmal moim-i mansseumnida) – There are many year-end gatherings in December.

12월에는 날씨가 매우 춥습니다. (sip-i-wol-eneun nalssi-ga maeu chubseumnida) – The weather is very cold in December.

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Korean Date Related Vocabulary: All You Need to Know

In addition to the names of the months and date format, there are plenty of other Korean time-related terms you need to know. And, of course, we’re sharing them with you! You can find the most common words from time and date in Korean topic on the list below.

• 날 – nal – Day in Korean.

오늘은 좋은 날입니다. (oneul-eun joeun nal-imnida) – Today is a good day.

매일 운동을 합니다. (maeil undong-eul hamnida) – I exercise every day.

하루 종일 비가 내렸습니다. (haru jong-il biga naeryeotseumnida) – It rained all day.

• 주 – ju – Week in Korean.

이번 주는 바쁩니다. (ibeon ju-neun bappeumnida) – This week is busy.

한 주 동안 여행을 갑니다. (han ju dong-an yeohaeng-eul gamnida) – I am going on a trip for a week.

그녀는 이번 주 말까지 돌아올 것입니다. (Geunyeo-neun ibeon ju mal-kkaji doraol geosimnida.) – She will be back by the end of this week.

• 월 – wol – Month in Korean.

한 달 동안 한국어를 공부했습니다. (han dal dong-an hangugeo-reul gongbuhaetseumnida) – I studied Korean for a month.

매월 모임이 있습니다. (maewol moim-i issseumnida) – There is a meeting every month.

월초에 계획을 세웁니다. (wolcho-e gyehoeg-eul se-eumnida) – I make plans at the beginning of the month.

• 년 – nyeon – Year in Korean.

올해는 특별한 해입니다. (olhae-neun teukbyeolhan hae-imnida) – This year is special.

매년 가족들과 여행을 갑니다. (maenyeon gajok-deulgwa yeohaeng-eul gamnida) – I travel with my family every year.

그는 3년 동안 한국에서 살았습니다. (geuneun sam-nyeon dong-an hangug-eseo salasyeotseumnida) – He lived in Korea for three years.

• 날짜 – naljja – Date in Korean.

오늘의 날짜는 무엇입니까? (oneul-ui naljja-neun mueos-imnikka?) – What is today’s date?

중요한 날짜를 잊지 마세요. (jung-yohan naljja-reul itji maseyo) – Don’t forget the important date.

그 날짜에 약속이 있습니다. (geu naljja-e yaksok-i issseumnida) – I have an appointment on that date.

• 시간 – sigan – Time in Korean.

시간이 있습니까? (sigan-i issseumnikka?) – Do you have time?

우리는 정해진 시간에 만납니다. (urineun jeonghaejin sigan-e mannabnida) – We meet at the designated time.

시간을 잘 관리하세요. (sigan-eul jal gwalihaseyo) – Manage your time well.

And, of course, we can’t talk about time without discussing days of the week. Here’s how Koreans name them:

• 월요일 – wol-yo-il – Monday.

월요일은 새로운 시작입니다. (wol-yo-il-eun saeroun sijak-imnida) – Monday is a fresh start.

월요일 아침에는 회의가 있습니다. (wol-yo-il achim-eneun hoeui-ga issseumnida) – There is a meeting on Monday morning.

월요일에는 에너지가 필요합니다. (wol-yo-il-eneun eneojiga piryohamnida) – You need energy on Monday.

• 화요일 – hwa-yo-il – Tuesday.

화요일에는 수업이 많습니다. (hwa-yo-il-eneun sueob-i mansseumnida) – I have many classes on Tuesday.

화요일 저녁에는 친구와 저녁을 먹습니다. (hwa-yo-il jeonyeog-eneun chingu-wa jeonyeog-eul meokseumnida) – I have dinner with a friend on Tuesday evening.

화요일은 생산적인 날입니다. (hwa-yo-il-eun saengsan-jeogin nal-imnida) – Tuesday is a productive day.

• 수요일 – su-yo-il – Wednesday.

수요일에는 피곤합니다. (su-yo-il-eneun pigonhamnida) – I feel tired on Wednesday.

수요일 오후에는 운동을 합니다. (su-yo-il ohu-eneun undong-eul hamnida) – I exercise on Wednesday afternoon.

수요일은 주의 중간입니다. (su-yo-il-eun ju-ui junggan-imnida) – Wednesday is the middle of the week.

• 목요일 – mog-yo-il – Thursday.

목요일에는 중요한 발표가 있습니다. (mog-yo-il-eneun jung-yohan balpyo-ga issseumnida) – There is an important presentation on Thursday.

목요일 저녁에는 영화를 봅니다. (mog-yo-il jeonyeog-eneun yeonghwa-reul bomnida) – I watch a movie on Thursday evening.

목요일은 조금 덜 바쁩니다. (mog-yo-il-eun jogeum deol bappeumnida) – Thursday is a bit less busy.

• 금요일 – geum-yo-il – Friday.

금요일은 즐거운 날입니다. (geum-yo-il-eun jeulgeoun nal-imnida) – Friday is a fun day.

금요일 밤에는 파티가 있습니다. (geum-yo-il bam-eneun pati-ga issseumnida) – There is a party on Friday night.

금요일에 일을 끝내고 싶습니다. (geum-yo-il-e il-eul kkeutnaego sipseumnida) – I want to finish work on Friday.

• 토요일 – to-yo-il – Saturday.

토요일에는 늦잠을 잡니다. (to-yo-il-eneun neujam-eul jamnida) – I sleep in on Saturday.

토요일 오후에는 친구들과 놀러 갑니다. (to-yo-il ohu-eneun chingudeul-gwa nolleo gamnida) – I hang out with friends on Saturday afternoon.

토요일은 자유로운 날입니다. (to-yo-il-eun jayuro-un nal-imnida) – Saturday is a free day.

• 일요일 – il-yo-il – Sunday.

일요일에는 교회에 갑니다. (il-yo-il-eneun gyooe-e gamnida) – I go to church on Sunday.

일요일에는 가족과 시간을 보냅니다. (il-yo-il-eneun gajok-gwa sigan-eul bonaemnida) – I spend time with my family on Sunday.

일요일 저녁에는 다음 주를 준비합니다. (il-yo-il jeonyeog-eneun daeum ju-reul junbi-hamnida) – I prepare for the next week on Sunday evening.

How Do Koreans Write the Date? Ask Promova!

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Conclusion

All in all, learning how to write the date in Korean might be a small yet important step towards fluency. We genuinely hope that today’s article will make this step much easier. And that’s it for now! We’ll see you in the next article.