Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 나이 | nai | [na̠i] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 연령 | yeollyeong | [jʌ̹ʎʎʌ̹ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 연세 | yeonse | [jʌ̹nsʰe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | honorific |
| 살 | sal | [sʰa̠ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term 'age' refers to the amount of time since the birth of a being or the beginning of a thing.
Which one should you use?
나이 is the standard, everyday word for 'age' used in most casual and neutral contexts. For technical, administrative or official purposes like statistics or news reports, use 연령. When you are speaking about the age of an elder or someone to whom you wish to show high respect, use the honorific form 연세.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
연령 is a formal, technical term used in official documents or statistics. 연세 is an honorific form used specifically when referring to the age of elders. When counting age, the counter 살 is used for 2 years old and above.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 살 is a counter used specifically for counting years of age. It must be used with native Korean numbers.
How do you pronounce it?
nai
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 연세 when talking about your own age. It is an honorific term strictly reserved for referring to the age of others.
When do people say it?
There are several ways to ask, ranging from the formal 나이가 어떻게 되세요? or 얼마나 되시는지요? to the very informal 너 몇 살임? or 몇 살?
Did you know?
- Until recently, Koreans used a system where everyone gained a year of 나이 on New Year's Day, regardless of their actual birth date.
Examples in context
- 톰은 나이에 비해 작아.Tom is short for his age.This sentence uses 나이 to describe someone's physical stature relative to their age.Tatoeba #8386623 by Eunhee, translation #3921122 by CK
- 우린 너랑 비슷한 나이야.We're about your age.This sentence uses 나이 to state that people are of a similar age.Tatoeba #13755034 by qlTmalffk, translation #6874263 by CK
- 톰은 나이에 비해 늙어 보여.He looks old for his age.This sentence uses 나이 to describe someone's appearance relative to their age.Tatoeba #8386618 by Eunhee, translation #292584 by CK
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minji and Dohyeon are talking about how old they are at a cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨는 나이가 어떻게 돼요?Dohyeon ssi-neun nai-ga eo-tteok-hae dwae-yo?How old are you, Dohyeon?
- 도현 Do-hyeon저는 스물다섯 살이에요.Jeo-neun seu-mul-da-seot sal-i-e-yo.I am twenty-five years old.
- 민지 Min-ji아, 저랑 나이가 같네요!A, jeo-rang nai-ga gat-ne-yo!Ah, we are the same age!
- 도현 Do-hyeon정말요? 반가워요, 민지 씨.Jeong-mal-yo? Ban-ga-wo-yo, Minji ssi.Really? Nice to meet you, Minji.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “age” translations and entries 나이, 연령, 연세, 살, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 나이, 살, 연령, 연세, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
