Lesson 18: Native Korean Numbers
If you remember from lesson 16, there are two different number systems in the Korean language: Sino-Korean numbers and native Korean numbers. In this lesson, you will learn some native Korean numbers. Native Korean numbers are used for counting things, counting people, time, and age.
Lesson 18: Native Korean Numbers
Native Korean numbers only go up to 99, and so for any number higher than that Sino-Korean numbers are used. Below we’ll show you how to count to 99 with native Korean numbers. First, let’s look at numbers 1-10.
1-10
하나 [ha-na] = one
둘 [dul] = two
셋 [set] = three
넷 [net] = four
다섯 [da-seot] = five
여섯 [yeo-seot] = six
일곱 [il-gop] = seven
여덟 [yeo-deol] = eight
아홉 [a-hop] = nine
열 [yeol] = ten
11-19
Once you have learned the first ten numbers, counting to 19 easy. Just like Sino-Korean numbers, you simply combine the numbers above. For example, to say 11, you put together 열 (10) and 하나 (1) to make 열하나 (11). To say 12 simply put together 열 (10) and 둘 (2) to make 열둘 (12). This is the same up to number 19.
열하나 [yeol-ha-na] = eleven
열둘 [yeol-dul] = twelve
열셋 [yeol-set] = thirteen
열넷 [yeol-net] = fourteen
열다섯 [yeol-da-seot] = fifteen
열여섯 [yeol-lyeo-seot] = sixteen
열일곱 [yeo-ril-gop] = seventeen
열여덟 [yeol-lyeo-deol] = eighteen
열아홉 [yeo-ra-hop] = nineteen
20-99
The same rules apply for numbers 20-99. However, unlike Sino-Korean numbers, native Korean numbers have a special word for numbers 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90. Once you learn these words, you’ll be able to say any native Korean number between 1 and 99.
스물 [seu-mul] = twenty
서른 [seo-reun] = thirty
마흔 [ma-heun] = fourty
쉰 [swin] = fifty
예순 [ye-sun] = sixty
일흔 [il-heun] = seventy
여든 [yeo-deun] = eighty
아흔 [a-heun] = ninety
In the next lesson, you will learn how to use these native Korean numbers together with Korean counting units to count things. If you would like to practice Korean numbers some more, and download free flashcards, check out our complete guide to Sino-Korean numbers and Native Korean numbers. Or if you’re ready to move on, check out the next lesson.
