요일
yoil[joiɭ]
The Korean phrase for "days of the week" is 요일 (yoil).
요일 is used when referring to the names of the seven days that make up a week. Use this term when you are specifically asking for the day of the week rather than asking for a specific date.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 요일 is composed of 요, meaning 'day/element' and 일, meaning 'day'.
Which one should you use?
In casual contexts such as calendars or quick notes, the 요일 suffix is often dropped, leaving only the single-syllable element, such as 월, 화, 수, 목, 금, 토, 일 for Monday through Sunday.
How do you pronounce it?
yoil
Did you know?
- The names of the days in 요일 are based on the five elements of ancient East Asian philosophy: water, fire, wood, metal and earth, plus the sun and moon.
- The word 요일 is a Sino-Korean term that was borrowed from the Japanese word 曜日, which is written with the same Chinese characters.
- While English uses 'Moon-day' and 'Sun-day', Korean uses 월요일 for Monday and 일요일 for Sunday, mirroring the same astronomical roots.
Examples in context
- 오늘은 월요일입니다.Today is Monday.
- 금요일에 파티가 있어요.There is a party on Friday.
- 일요일은 휴일이에요.Sunday is a day off.
- 저는 요일을 잘 몰라요.jeoneun yoil-eul jal mollayo.I don't know the days of the week well.
Example conversation
Minji and Jihoon are scheduling a meeting.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨, 무슨 요일이 편해요?Jihoon ssi, museun yoil-i pyeonhaeyo?Jihoon, what day of the week is convenient for you?
- 지훈 Ji-hun저는 금요일이 제일 좋아요.jeoneun geum-yoil-i jeil joayo.Friday is the best for me.
- 민지 Min-ji그럼 금요일에 만나요.geureom geum-yoil-e mannayo.Then let's meet on Friday.
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 그때 봬요.ne, geuttae bwaeyo.Yes, see you then.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 요일, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 요일, CC BY-SA 4.0.
