12 Korean Months: A Beginner’s Guide To The Korean Calendar [2025]

When I first moved to Seoul, mixing up 1월 (January) and 2월 (February) meant showing up for a coffee date a month late! I mean, the pronunciation can sound pretty similar to newcomers, but knowing Korean months saves you from these awkward situations.

In this post, I'll break down all 12 months in Korean with real pronunciation tips I've learned from native speakers. You'll see exactly how the number system works with month names (much simpler than counting systems in other Asian languages!), plus pick up everyday phrases Koreans actually use.

After reading this, you'll spot dates on signs, understand event announcements, and nail down meeting times without reaching for Google Translate! Let's learn Korean, shall we?

Understanding the 받침 (Batchim) Rule Through Korean Months

When learning the months of the year in Korean, recognizing how 받침 (batchim) affects pronunciation can be very helpful. The 받침 is the final consonant(s) at the bottom of a syllable block. Its pronunciation often changes when it interacts with the following syllable, especially when that syllable begins with a vowel. This process, known as 연음화 (yeoneumhwa) or liaison, makes Korean speech flow smoothly and naturally.

How It Works:

1. When followed by a vowel: The 받침 sound is carried over to the next syllable.

2. When followed by a consonant: The 받침 remains in place and is pronounced normally.

Examples from the Months of the Year:

• 일월 (January) and 칠월 (July): Both end with the consonant ㄹ as their 받침. Instead of being cut off, the ㄹ sound moves to the following syllable’s vowel, making them sound like 이뤌 (i-rol) and 치뤌 (chi-rol), respectively.

• 십일월 (November) and 십이월 (December): Here, the 받침 ㅂ would usually sound like p. However, since the next syllable begins with a vowel (이), it changes to a softer 비 sound. Therefore, they are pronounced as 시비뤌 (si-bi-rol) and 시비월 (si-bi-wol).

Understanding how the 받침 links to the following syllable helps learners sound more natural when talking about dates and months in Korean.

Applying These Rules to the Months of the Year

These rules apply to the pronunciation of the months of the year in Korean, helping learners sound more natural when speaking about dates. Here are a few examples of how special 받침 rules are used in the months:

• 십일월 (November): The ㅂ (p) in 십 becomes ㅁ before 이 (i), so it sounds like 시비뤌 (si-bi-rol).

• 십이월 (December): The ㅂ (p) in 십 becomes ㅁ before 이 (i), making it sound like 시비월 (si-bi-wol).

What Are The Months Of The Year In Korean?

The Korean calendar matches our standard 12-month system, but uses two different words for "month" - 월 (wol) and 달 (dal). The word 월 appears in month names and dates (like 3월 for March), while 달 is used when talking about time periods ("this month" is 이번 달).

Unlike English with unique names like January or February, Korean months follow a simple pattern - just the number plus 월. So January is 1월 (il-wol), February is 2월 (i-wol), and so on through December (12월).

Let's get to know each other more deeply in the sections below.

January In Korean

Pronounce it as "eel-wol" with a short, crisp ending. The "il" should sound similar to "eel" but shorter, and "wol" rhymes with "goal" but with a shorter "o" sound. January in Korea brings freezing temperatures, often below zero Celsius in Seoul. Many Koreans celebrate New Year's Day on January 1st with family gatherings and rice cake soup. University students typically have winter break during this month.

• 1월에 눈이 많이 와요. (Il-wol-e nun-i mani wayo.) - It snows a lot in January.
• 1월부터 운동을 시작했어요. (Il-wol-buteo undongeul sijakhaesseoyo.) - I started exercising from January.

February In Korean

Say it like "ee-wol" with a quick "ee" sound followed by "wol" (rhymes with "goal"). February often hosts Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), one of Korea's biggest holidays. This month typically has the coldest temperatures of the year. At this time, schools remain on winter break until mid-to-late February, and ski resorts reach peak season.

• 2월에 설날을 축하해요. (I-wol-e seollal-eul chukahaeyo.) - We celebrate Lunar New Year in February.
• 2월이 제일 추워요. (I-wol-i jeil chuweoyo.) - February is the coldest.

March In Korean

Pronounce it as "sahm-wol" with a clear "ah" in "sahm." The new school year begins in early March for elementary, middle, and high school students across Korea. The weather starts warming up, with early Korean flowers like forsythia beginning to bloom. During this month, many companies hire new employees who just graduated from university.

• 3월에 새 학기가 시작해요. (Sam-wol-e sae hakgi-ga sijakaeyo.) - The new semester starts in March.
• 3월 8일은 여성의 날이에요. (Sam-wol pail-eun yeoseong-ui nal-ieyo.) - March 8th is Women's Day.

April In Korean

April is 4월 (sa-wol) in Korean, combining the number 4 (사 - sa) with 월 (wol). Say it as "sah-wol" with a short "ah" sound. Cherry blossoms make April famous in Korea, with festivals held nationwide. The weather becomes pleasantly warm, usually between 10-20°C (50-68°F).

• 4월에 벚꽃이 피어요. (Sa-wol-e beotkkochi pieoyo.) - Cherry blossoms bloom in April.
• 4월에 소풍 갈 거예요. (Sa-wol-e sopung gal geoyeyo.) - I will go on a picnic in April.

May In Korean

Simply pronounce it like "oh-wol" with a long "oh" sound. May brings multiple holidays to Korea, including Children's Day (5th) and Parents' Day (8th). The weather becomes quite comfortable, making it perfect for outdoor activities before summer humidity arrives. Many Koreans go hiking to enjoy spring mountain views during this month.

• 5월 5일은 어린이날이에요. (O-wol o-il-eun eorininal-ieyo.) - May 5th is Children's Day.
• 5월에 날씨가 좋아요. (O-wol-e nalsiga joayo.) - The weather is nice in May.

June In Korean

June is 6월 (yu-wol) in Korean, with the pronunciation of number 6 (육 - yuk) changing to "yu" when combined with 월 (wol). Say it as "yu-wol" with "yu" sounding like the "you" in "YouTube." June marks the beginning of summer and often brings the start of the rainy season (장마 - jangma). Memorial Day falls on June 6th, when people honor soldiers who died serving Korea. Students prepare for final exams before summer break.

• 6월에 장마가 시작돼요. (Yu-wol-e jangmaga sijaktoeyo.) - The rainy season starts in June.
• 6월 6일은 현충일이에요. (Yu-wol yuk-il-eun hyeonchung-il-ieyo.) - June 6th is Memorial Day.

July In Korean

When saying it, make the "ch" sound crisp like in "chip," and keep the "i" short. The full pronunciation should sound close to "chill-wall" but quicker. July kicks off summer vacation for Korean students, who finally break free from classrooms after finishing exams. The humidity cranks up, and afternoon thunderstorms become common. No wonder why many Koreans head to water parks or mountain streams to cool off during this month!

• 7월에 방학이 시작됐어요. (Chil-wol-e banghak-i sijakdwaesseoyo.) - Summer vacation started in July.
• 7월은 비가 자주 와요. (Chil-wol-eun biga jaju wayo.) - It rains frequently in July.

August In Korean

August hits Korea as 8월 (pal-wol), blending the number 8 (팔 - pal) with 월 (wol). Say it with a clear "p" sound followed by "al" – something like "pal-wall" but faster. This month brings peak summer heat that turns Seoul into a sauna. The last two weeks see a mass exodus from cities during what Koreans call the "summer holiday season," when families rush to already-packed beaches or fly to cooler countries.

• 8월에 휴가 갔어요? (Pal-wol-e hyuga gasseoyo?) - Did you go on vacation in August?
• 8월은 제일 더워요. (Pal-wol-eun jeil deoweoyo.) - August is the hottest.

September In Korean

September becomes 9월 (gu-wol) in Korean, connecting the number 9 (구 - gu) with 월 (wol). The "gu" sounds like "goo" in "good" but shorter, making the full word sound like "goo-wall" but more clipped. This month welcomes Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving when everyone heads to their hometowns for family gatherings and ancestral rites. Traffic jams stretch for hours on highways as millions travel.

• 9월에 추석 연휴가 있어요. (Gu-wol-e chuseok yeonhyuga isseoyo.) - There's Chuseok holiday in September.
• 9월부터 날씨가 시원해졌어요. (Gu-wol-buteo nalsiga siwonhaejyeosseoyo.) - The weather has become cool since September.

October In Korean

Say it like "see-wall" with a quick "see." This month paints Korean mountains with spectacular autumn colors, drawing hikers by the thousands. College campuses burst with festivals and outdoor performances before winter arrives. The weather hits that sweet spot—not too hot, not too cold—just right for long walks and outdoor cafés.

• 10월에 단풍이 정말 예뻐요. (Si-wol-e danpung-i jeongmal yeppeoyo.) - The autumn foliage is really beautiful in October.
• 10월에 결혼식이 많아요. (Si-wol-e gyeolhonsik-i manayo.) - There are many weddings in October.

November In Korean

November in Korean is written as 11월, combining the number 11 (십일 - shipil) with 월 (wol). You'll typically hear it pronounced as "shipil-wol," not "sibi-wol." The "ship" should sound similar to "sheep" but shorter, and "il" like "ill" in English. November marks the season when Korea gets serious about winter prep. The college entrance exam (수능 - Suneung) also happens this month—arguably Korea's most stressful day of the year.

• 11월에 수능시험이 있어요. (Sibi-wol-e suneung siheom-i isseoyo.) - The college entrance exam is in November.
• 11월부터 겨울옷을 입기 시작했어요. (Sibi-wol-buteo gyeoul-oseul ipgi sijakhaesseoyo.) - I started wearing winter clothes from November.

December In Korean

December wraps up the year as 12월 (sibi-wol) in Korean, exactly the same pronunciation as November! Both use "sibi-wol," which confuses many Korean learners at first. December kicks off proper winter in Korea, often with the first significant snowfall. Christmas decorations light up shopping districts, though the holiday remains more for couples and friends than family gatherings.

• 12월에 크리스마스를 축하해요. (Sibi-wol-e keuriseumaseu-reul chukahaeyo.) - We celebrate Christmas in December.
• 12월 31일에 새해를 기다려요. (Sibi-wol samsip-il-il-e saehae-reul gidareoyo.) - We wait for the new year on December 31st.

Useful Month-Related Words in Korean

When talking about dates in Korean, knowing just the month names isn't enough. You need other time-related words to create natural sentences. Koreans use specific terms when talking about this month, next month, or making plans for future months. They also have special words for month-long periods, beginning and end of months, and monthly occurrences.

Quite a lot, eh? Well, trust me when I say that learning these additional terms will help you schedule appointments, plan trips, or simply chat about upcoming events without constantly checking your translator app.

Public Holidays In Korea [2025]

Knowing Korean holidays is a big plus when planning trips or chatting with Korean friends. The Korean calendar features both modern and traditional celebrations, with some holidays following the lunar calendar that shifts yearly on the Western calendar. These special days often come with their own food traditions and activities that show off Korean culture. Buses, trains, and highways get extremely crowded during these times, so travelers should plan accordingly!

Start Your Korean Language Journey With Lingopie!

Learning the Korean months is just the first step in your language adventure! Now you can count days, make appointments, and talk about important dates without reaching for your translator app. The simple pattern of numbers + 월 (wol) makes months easier to pick up than in many other languages. And once you've got those down, you can start adding words like "this month" (이번 달) or "next month" (다음 달) to your conversations!

Ready to keep building your Korean skills? Try Lingopie to continue your language journey! With Lingopie, you can watch Korean TV shows and movies with learning tools that help you pick up vocabulary in context. See these month names used in real conversations, hear native pronunciation, and learn the cultural contexts behind Korean dates and festivals.

Start your free trial today and turn your Korean monthly vocabulary into real speaking skills!

Frequently Asked Questions About Korean Months

Why do Korean months sound different from the numbers I learned?

Korean months use Sino-Korean numbers (from Chinese origin) rather than native Korean numbers. That's why you might know 하나, 둘, 셋 (hana, dul, set) for counting, but months use 일, 이, 삼 (il, i, sam) instead. Korean has two separate number systems that serve different purposes - Sino-Korean numbers are typically used for dates, money, phone numbers, and addresses, while native Korean numbers work for counting objects and people. Learning both systems feels challenging at first, but you'll quickly spot the patterns after regular practice.

Can I use 월 (wol) and 달 (dal) interchangeably when talking about months?

No, 월 (wol) and 달 (dal) have specific uses even though both mean "month." Use 월 when naming specific months (3월 - March) or dates (3월 15일 - March 15th). Use 달 when referring to months as time periods, such as "this month" (이번 달), "next month" (다음 달), or "three months" (세 달). Think of 월 as the label on your calendar and 달 as the chunk of time passing by. Most beginners mix these up, but Korean speakers will usually understand what you mean from context.

Are there any special customs or superstitions related to specific months in Korea?

Each Korean month carries unique traditions and beliefs. Many avoid major life changes in May because an old saying claims "May brides cry" (오월의 신부는 운다). January brings pocket money traditions during Seollal, while April means cherry blossom picnics. July and August mark summer vacation season when beaches become packed. October revolves around Chuseok family gatherings with special foods.

Many seniors fear November because the college entrance exam that determines students' futures happens then. December 31st involves eating tteokguk (rice cake soup) at midnight to symbolically age one year. These monthly customs show how connected the Korean language is to cultural practices.

What months are best for visiting Korea based on weather and seasonal activities?

The best months to visit Korea depend completely on what experiences you want. April and May offer comfortable temperatures (15-25°C) plus cherry blossoms, spring festivals, and fewer crowds than summer. September and October bring stunning fall colors, harvest celebrations, and perfect hiking weather with clear skies. Winter months (December-February) are ideal for ski trips, hot spring visits, and winter festivals, though temperatures drop below freezing. Avoid July and August unless you enjoy extreme humidity, monsoon rains, and crowded beaches - these months bring temperatures above 30°C with high humidity.