Korean Dictionary
How to say "Century" in Korean
“Century” in Korean is 세기 (pronounced "segi").
세기
segi
Usage & Context
The word for century, a period of 100 years. This is commonly used in historical references and dating.
Example Sentence
21세기에 살고 있어요.
I live in the 21st century.
How to use 세기 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Century” is 세기, romanized as segi.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
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 세기.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'se-gi' — 'se' like 'seh' and 'gi' like 'gee' but with a softer 'g'. Two short syllables, evenly stressed.
More Example Sentences
History lecture on late Joseon
19세기 조선은 큰 변화를 겪었어요.
19th-century Joseon went through major changes.
News headline about a scientific breakthrough
세기의 발견이라고 해요.
They're calling it the discovery of the century.
Writing an essay on modern life
21세기에는 기술이 빠르게 발전해요.
Technology is developing rapidly in the 21st century.
Cultural Context
세기 is always used with Sino-Korean numbers (일세기, 이세기, 이십일세기 — the 21st century), never native Korean numbers. Koreans often use the phrase 세기의 ~ ('the ~ of the century') for dramatic emphasis — 세기의 결혼 (wedding of the century), 세기의 대결 (showdown of the century). This matches how English media uses 'of the century' for superlative events.
Editorial note
We review entries like 세기 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
21세기에 살고 있어요.
I live in the 21st century.
세기의 천재예요.
He's the genius of the century.
반세기 만에 만났어요.
We met after half a century.
Related Expressions
세기말
segimal
end of the century / fin-de-siècle
반세기
bansegi
half a century (50 years)
세기의
segiui
of the century (superlative)
연대
yeondae
decade / chronological era
More Numbers and Time Words
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