Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 셋 | set | [sʰe̞(ː)t̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 석 | seok | [sʰɘ(ː)k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 삼 | sam | [sʰa̠m] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 쓰리 | sseuri | [s͈ɯɾi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 세 | se | [sʰe̞(ː)] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | determiner |
Korean uses different systems for the number three. The Sino-Korean form is used for mathematical contexts, phone numbers or dates. Additionally, the English loanword 쓰리 is used in specific contexts such as brand names, pop culture or terms like 'three-way call'.
Which one should you use?
Use the native Korean form 셋 for counting people or objects. Use the Sino-Korean form 삼 for mathematics, dates or phone numbers. The form 세 is a determiner used when the number directly precedes a noun or a counter. The form 석 is a variation of 세 used specifically before certain nouns, though it is becoming less common in modern standard speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use the number as a determiner directly before a noun or a counter, you must use the form 세 instead of 셋.
How do you pronounce it?
set
Did you know?
- The word 삼 is used in the common Korean expression 삼세번, which means 'three times' and reflects a cultural belief that trying something three times is the standard for fairness or persistence.
- While 'three' is a number, the form 세 can also be a Sino-Korean word meaning 'to rent' or 'to lease' depending on the Hanja used.
- Ancient records from the twelfth-century Jilin leishi suggest that the Korean word for 'three' was originally pronounced as sai.
Examples in context
- 나는 딸이 셋 있다.I have three daughters.This sentence shows how to use 셋 when stating the number of daughters one has.Tatoeba #11105878 by intertime, translation #4499834 by CK
- 세 사람이 약간 다쳤다.Three people were slightly injured.This sentence demonstrates using the determiner 세 before a noun like 'people'.Tatoeba #5526649 by raining211, translation #5332947 by CK
- 이 단어는 세 음절이다.This word has three syllables.This sentence illustrates using the determiner 세 before the noun 'syllables'.Tatoeba #11107460 by intertime, translation #3504508 by nava
- 그것은 셋입니다.That is three.
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun are counting pieces of fruit on a table.
- 수빈 Su-bin사과가 모두 몇 개 있어?sagwaga modu myeot gae isseo?How many apples are there in total?
- 민준 Min-jun여기에 셋 있어.yeogie set isseo.There are three here.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말? 내가 보기엔 두 개인데.jeongmal? naega bogien du gaeine.Really? It looks like two to me.
- 민준 Min-jun다시 봐, 정확히 셋이야.dasi bwa, jeonghwakhi set-iya.Look again, it's exactly three.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “three” translations and entries 셋, 석, 삼, 쓰리, 세, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 세, 셋, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
