Whether you’re planning a trip to Korea or simply interested in learning a new language, knowing how to say the months in Korean is essential. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore both the formal and informal ways of expressing the months in Korean. So, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say the Months
In Korean, when using formal language, the months are expressed by adding the word “월” (wol) after the number. Here’s a list of the months in a formal setting:
1월 (ilwol) – January
2월 (iwol) – February
3월 (samwol) – March
4월 (sawol) – April
5월 (owol) – May
6월 (yookwol) – June
7월 (chilwol) – July
8월 (palwol) – August
9월 (guwol) – September
10월 (sipwol) – October
11월 (sip-ilwol) – November
12월 (sip-iwol) – December
Remember to use these formal expressions in more official or respectful situations, such as when speaking to someone older or at work.
Informal Ways to Say the Months
In casual or informal settings, Korean speakers often use a simpler form to express the months. Here’s a list of the months in an informal setting:
1월 (irwol) – January
2월 (iwol) – February
3월 (samwol) – March
4월 (sawol) – April
5월 (owol) – May
6월 (yu-wol) – June
7월 (chilwol) – July
8월 (hwalwol) – August
9월 (guwol) – September
10월 (sipwol) – October
11월 (sip-ilwol) – November
12월 (sip-iwol) – December
The informal way is commonly used among friends, family, and in casual conversations. It’s important to note that the pronunciation may differ slightly from the formal version.
Tips and Examples
Here are some additional tips and examples to help you further master the months in Korean:
- When talking about the current month, you can simply use the word “이번” (eebun) before mentioning the month. For example, “이번 달” (eebun dal) means “this month.”
- When discussing future events or appointments attributed to a particular month, you can use the word “다음” (da-eum) before indicating the month. For instance, “다음 달” (da-eum dal) means “next month.”
- The word “오늘” (oneul) means “today.” To refer to the current month using a casual expression, you can say “이번 달 오늘” (eebun dal oneul).
- In Korean, the word “작년” (jaknyeon) refers to “last year,” “올해” (olhae) means “this year,” and “내년” (naenyeon) translates to “next year.”
Remember, practice makes perfect! Try incorporating these words into your Korean conversations, and you’ll quickly become more confident in expressing dates and understanding time-related discussions.
To wrap things up, learning the months in Korean is not only useful but also adds a touch of cultural appreciation when conversing with native speakers. Enjoy your Korean language journey, and may each month bring you new opportunities and beautiful experiences!
