Native Korean numbers are pure Korean words used for counting from 1 to 99. They're essential for telling time (hours), age, and counting objects with native counters.
Basic Numbers 1-10
Core Numbers
| Number | Korean | Romanization | Pronunciation Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 하나 | hana | ha-na |
| 2 | 둘 | dul | like "dool" |
| 3 | 셋 | set | like "set" |
| 4 | 넷 | net | like "net" |
| 5 | 다섯 | daseot | da-suh(t) |
| 6 | 여섯 | yeoseot | yuh-suh(t) |
| 7 | 일곱 | ilgop | il-gop |
| 8 | 여덟 | yeodeol | yuh-duhl |
| 9 | 아홉 | ahop | a-hop |
| 10 | 열 | yeol | yuhl |
Numbers 11-19
Pattern: 열 + (1-9)
Simply add 열 before 1-9:
- 11: 열하나 (yeol-hana)
- 12: 열둘 (yeol-dul)
- 13: 열셋 (yeol-set)
- 14: 열넷 (yeol-net)
- 15: 열다섯 (yeol-daseot)
- 16: 열여섯 (yeol-yeoseot)
- 17: 열일곱 (yeol-ilgop)
- 18: 열여덟 (yeol-yeodeol)
- 19: 열아홉 (yeol-ahop)
Tens (20-90)
Decade Names
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 스물 | seumul |
| 30 | 서른 | seoreun |
| 40 | 마흔 | maheun |
| 50 | 쉰 | swin |
| 60 | 예순 | yesun |
| 70 | 일흔 | ilheun |
| 80 | 여든 | yeodeun |
| 90 | 아흔 | aheun |
Note: These are unique words, not combinations
Numbers 21-99
Pattern: Tens + Ones
Combine tens with ones (1-9):
- 21: 스물하나 (seumul-hana)
- 25: 스물다섯 (seumul-daseot)
- 32: 서른둘 (seoreun-dul)
- 47: 마흔일곱 (maheun-ilgop)
- 58: 쉰여덟 (swin-yeodeol)
- 69: 예순아홉 (yesun-ahop)
- 76: 일흔여섯 (ilheun-yeoseot)
- 83: 여든셋 (yeodeun-set)
- 94: 아흔넷 (aheun-net)
Modified Forms Before Counters
Numbers That Change
When used with counters, some numbers shorten:
| Original | Before Counter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 하나 | 한 | 한 개 (one item) |
| 둘 | 두 | 두 명 (two people) |
| 셋 | 세 | 세 마리 (three animals) |
| 넷 | 네 | 네 병 (four bottles) |
| 스물 | 스무 | 스무 살 (20 years old) |
Examples in context:
- 하나 → 한 개 (one piece)
- 스물하나 → 스물한 개 (21 pieces)
- 둘 → 두 시 (2 o'clock)
- 셋 → 세 명 (three people)
Numbers That Don't Change
These stay the same:
- 다섯: 다섯 개 (five items)
- 여섯: 여섯 명 (six people)
- 열: 열 마리 (ten animals)
- 서른: 서른 살 (30 years old)
Common Usage
Age (살)
Always use native Korean:
- 한 살 (1 year old)
- 다섯 살 (5 years old)
- 스무 살 (20 years old)
- 서른다섯 살 (35 years old)
- 쉰 살 (50 years old)
Hours (시)
For telling time (hours only):
- 한 시 (1 o'clock)
- 두 시 (2 o'clock)
- 세 시 (3 o'clock)
- 열두 시 (12 o'clock)
Note: Minutes use Sino-Korean numbers
Counting Objects
With native Korean counters:
- 한 개 (one item)
- 두 명 (two people)
- 세 마리 (three animals)
- 네 병 (four bottles)
- 다섯 권 (five books - 권 can use either system)
Number of Times (번)
Frequency:
- 한 번 (once)
- 두 번 (twice)
- 세 번 (three times)
- 열 번 (ten times)
Complete Reference Table
1-99 Quick Reference
1-10: 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯, 여섯, 일곱, 여덟, 아홉, 열
11-19: 열 + (1-9)
- 열하나, 열둘, 열셋... 열아홉
20-29: 스물 + (1-9)
- 스물, 스물하나, 스물둘... 스물아홉
30-39: 서른 + (1-9)
- 서른, 서른하나... 서른아홉
40-49: 마흔 + (1-9)
- 마흔, 마흔하나... 마흔아홉
50-59: 쉰 + (1-9)
- 쉰, 쉰하나... 쉰아홉
60-69: 예순 + (1-9)
- 예순, 예순하나... 예순아홉
70-79: 일흔 + (1-9)
- 일흔, 일흔하나... 일흔아홉
80-89: 여든 + (1-9)
- 여든, 여든하나... 여든아홉
90-99: 아흔 + (1-9)
- 아흔, 아흔하나... 아흔아홉
Practice Examples
Age Sentences
- 저는 스물다섯 살이에요 (I'm 25 years old)
- 동생은 열여덟 살이에요 (My younger sibling is 18 years old)
- 할머니는 여든 살이세요 (My grandmother is 80 years old)
Time Sentences
- 지금 세 시예요 (It's 3 o'clock now)
- 열한 시에 만나요 (Let's meet at 11 o'clock)
- 다섯 시에 끝나요 (It ends at 5 o'clock)
Counting Objects
- 사과 세 개 주세요 (Please give me three apples)
- 친구 두 명이 왔어요 (Two friends came)
- 강아지 한 마리가 있어요 (There's one puppy)
Frequency
- 하루에 세 번 먹어요 (I eat three times a day)
- 한 번 해 봤어요 (I tried it once)
- 여러 번 갔어요 (I went several times)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 하나 개
Not shortening before counter
✅ Correct: 한 개
Must shorten 하나 → 한
❌ Incorrect: 이십 살
Using Sino-Korean for age
✅ Correct: 스무 살
Use native Korean for age
❌ Incorrect: 하나 시
Not shortening before 시
✅ Correct: 한 시
Must shorten 하나 → 한
❌ Incorrect: 백 (100)
Native Korean rarely goes above 99
✅ Correct: 아흔아홉 (99) is practical limit
Use Sino-Korean for 100+
Pronunciation Tips
Difficult Sounds
여섯 (6): yo-suh(t) - drop final 't' in casual speech 일곱 (7): il-gop - two syllables 여덟 (8): yuh-duhl - tricky combination 아홉 (9): a-hop - like "hop"
Linking Sounds
When combining:
- 스물 + 하나 → 스물하나 (smooth connection)
- 서른 + 다섯 → 서른다섯 (no pause)
Memory Tips
Pattern Recognition
3-4-6-7-8-9 share 'ㅅ' sound:
- 셋 (3), 넷 (4)
- 여섯 (6), 일곱 (7), 여덟 (8), 아홉 (9)
Tens have unique sounds:
- 스물 (20) - like "smool"
- 서른 (30) - like "suh-reun"
- Remember these individually
Mnemonics
1-5 in order: 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯
- Practice as a unit until automatic
Tens: 스물(20), 서른(30), 마흔(40), 쉰(50)
- Group by sound similarity
Summary Table
| Range | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | Individual words | 하나, 둘, 셋... 열 |
| 11-19 | 열 + (1-9) | 열하나, 열둘... |
| 20-99 | Tens + (1-9) | 스물하나, 서른다섯... |
| Before counters | Modified form | 한/두/세/네/스무 |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Used 1-99: Practical range for native Korean numbers
- ✅ Three main uses: Age, hours, native counters
- ✅ Numbers modify: 하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네, 스물→스무
- ✅ Unique tens: Each decade (20, 30, 40...) has unique word
- ✅ Simple combination: Tens + ones for compound numbers
- ✅ Practice daily: Use for age, time, and counting
Native Korean numbers are essential for everyday Korean. While they only go to 99 in practical use, they're used constantly for time, age, and counting with native counters. Master these numbers to sound natural when talking about daily quantities and times!