Korean Dictionary
How to say "Christmas" in Korean
“Christmas” in Korean is 크리스마스 (pronounced "keuriseumaseu").
크리스마스
keuriseumaseu
Usage & Context
크리스마스 on December 25th is an official public holiday in Korea reflecting the country's significant Christian population. In Korea 크리스마스 is often celebrated as a romantic couple's holiday rather than a family one especially in urban areas. Shopping districts like Myeongdong are decorated with elaborate light displays attracting crowds of shoppers and couples.
Example Sentence
크리스마스 이브에 남자친구와 데이트했어요.
I had a date with my boyfriend on Christmas Eve.
How to use 크리스마스 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Christmas” is 크리스마스, romanized as keuriseumaseu.
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 크리스마스.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'keu-ri-seu-ma-seu' — loanword. Each Korean syllable is pronounced clearly. 'keu' like 'kuh', 'ri' like 'ree', 'seu' like 'suh', 'ma' like 'mah', 'seu' again.
Formal & Casual Forms
Casual (반말)
크리스
keuriseu
sometimes shortened in text; '성탄절' is the Korean native term for Christmas, used in church contexts
More Example Sentences
Korean couples culture
크리스마스 이브에 남자친구랑 데이트해요.
I'm going on a date with my boyfriend on Christmas Eve.
seasonal outing
크리스마스 마켓에 다녀왔어요.
I went to a Christmas market.
single person's confession
솔로 크리스마스는 조용히 보내요.
I spend solo Christmas quietly.
Cultural Context
크리스마스 in Korea is primarily a couples' holiday — singles often stay in while couples flood restaurants, hotels, and light festivals like 'Seoul Christmas Festival'. The alternative term '성탄절' is used in Christian churches. Unlike Western countries, Korean Christmas has no family gathering tradition, so commercial couple-focused celebrations dominate. Hotels charge premium prices for Christmas Eve dinner packages.
Editorial note
We review entries like 크리스마스 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
메리 크리스마스!
Merry Christmas!
크리스마스 잘 보내세요.
Have a nice Christmas.
크리스마스 선물이에요.
This is a Christmas gift.
Related Expressions
성탄절
seongtanjeol
Christmas (Christian/traditional term)
크리스마스 이브
keuriseumaseu ibeu
Christmas Eve
산타
santa
Santa Claus
캐럴
kaereol
Christmas carol
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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