Korean Dictionary
How to say "Anniversary" in Korean
“Anniversary” in Korean is 기념일 (pronounced "Ginyeomil").
기념일
Ginyeomil
Usage & Context
A day commemorating an important event. Korean couples track many 기념일: 100일 (100 days together), 200일, 1년 (1 year), etc. Valentine's Day (February 14), White Day (March 14), Pepero Day (November 11), and Christmas are also celebrated as romantic days.
Example Sentence
오늘 우리 100일 기념일이에요!
Today is our 100-day anniversary!
How to use 기념일 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Anniversary” is 기념일, romanized as Ginyeomil.
Usage tip
Relationship words can sound too direct if the social context is wrong. Check the age, closeness, and formality before using it.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 기념일.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '기념일' as 'Gi-nyeom-il'. 'Gi' sounds like 'gee' in 'geese'. 'Nyeom' is like 'nyum' in 'yum'. 'Il' is pronounced like 'ill'. The stress is typically on the second syllable, 'nyeom'.
More Example Sentences
A married person talking about an upcoming special date.
다음 주가 우리 결혼 기념일이에요.
Next week is our wedding anniversary.
Mistakenly buying the wrong type of cake, or perhaps a cake for a friend's relationship anniversary.
친구 생일 선물로 기념일 케이크를 샀어요.
I bought an anniversary cake as a friend's birthday present.
An employee stating a company holiday or important date.
우리 회사 창립 기념일은 5월 1일입니다.
Our company's founding anniversary is May 1st.
Cultural Context
In Korea, '기념일' holds significant importance, especially for couples. Beyond typical yearly anniversaries, many couples celebrate '100일' (100 days together), '200일,' '300일,' and '1000일' (1000 days). These milestones often involve special gifts, dates, and sometimes matching outfits. Additionally, romantic holidays like Valentine's Day (February 14), White Day (March 14, where men give gifts to women), and Pepero Day (November 11) are also treated as '기념일' for couples.
Editorial note
We check relationship words like 기념일 against age, closeness, and politeness rules, because a literal English match often misses the social meaning.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
기념일 선물
Anniversary gift
기념일 축하해
Happy anniversary!
기념일 데이트
Anniversary date
Related Expressions
생일
Saengil
Birthday
결혼기념일
Gyeollonginyeomil
Wedding anniversary
100일
Baegil
100-day anniversary (often for couples)
특별한 날
Teukbyeolhan nal
Special day
More Relationships Words
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