Article image Basic Korean Vocabulary: Months of the Year

4.4. Basic Korean Vocabulary: Months of the Year

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Basic Korean Vocabulary: Months of the Year

A fundamental part of learning any language is basic vocabulary. In the case of Korean, this is no different. Understanding and memorizing the months of the year in Korean is an essential part of basic vocabulary. Not only to set appointments and dates, but also to understand Korean culture and traditions that are strongly linked to the lunar calendar.

In Korean, the months of the year are quite simple to learn because they are based on numbers. The word "월" (wol) is used to indicate the month. To say the months, you simply need to know the numbers from one to twelve in Korean, followed by "월".

So, let's start learning the numbers from one to twelve in Korean:

One - 일 (il)
Two - 이 (i)
Three - 삼 (sam)
Four - 사 (sa)
Five - 오 (o)
Six - 육 (yuk)
Seven - 칠 (chill)
Eight - 팔 (pal)
Nine - 구 (gu)
Ten - 십 (ship)
Eleven - 십일 (ship il)
Twelve - 십이 (ship i)

Now, let's apply these numbers to the months of the year:

January - 일월 (il-wol)
February - 이월 (i-wol)
March - 삼월 (sam-wol)
April - 사월 (sa-wol)
May - 오월 (o-wol)
June - 유월 (yu-wol)
July - 칠월 (chil-wol)
August - 팔월 (pal-wol)
September - 구월 (gu-wol)
October - 십월 (ship-wol)
November - 십일월 (ship-il-wol)
December - 십이월 (ship-i-wol)

As you can see, the months of the year in Korean are pretty straightforward once you know the numbers. However, it's important to remember that when saying dates in Korean, you also need to know the ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.).

Also, it is important to note that Korea, like many Asian countries, also uses the lunar calendar for some of its traditions and holidays. This can cause some confusion as the dates for these events can change from year to year. However, for language learning purposes and everyday conversation, the Gregorian calendar (the one we use) is most commonly used.

Understanding and learning the months of the year in Korean is an important step towards becoming fluent in the language. With practice and repetition, you will be able to remember and use these words with ease. Remember, the key to learning any language is constant practice and immersing yourself in the culture and language whenever possible.

I hope this chapter was helpful for you to learn the months of the year in Korean. Keep practicing and you'll soon feel comfortable with this vital aspect of Korean vocabulary. In the next chapter, we'll explore another crucial piece of basic vocabulary: the days of the week. Until then, keep studying and practicing!

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