Korean Dictionary
How to say "Fever" in Korean
“Fever” in Korean is 발열 (pronounced "baryeol").
발열
baryeol
Usage & Context
발열 is the medical term for fever in Korean, while the casual term 열이 나다 (heat rises) is more commonly used in everyday speech. Korean parents are especially vigilant about 발열 in children and will typically visit a pediatric clinic promptly. During cold and flu season, temperature checks are common in Korean workplaces and schools.
Example Sentence
아이가 발열 증상이 있어서 소아과에 데려갔어요.
The child had a fever symptom so I took them to the pediatrician.
How to use 발열 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Fever” is 발열, romanized as baryeol.
Usage tip
When describing symptoms, combine the word with where it hurts, when it started, and how severe it is.
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 발열.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'bal-yeol' — 'bal' rhymes with 'ball', 'yeol' like 'yul' rhyming with 'curl' without the r. The final 'l' is light.
Formal & Casual Forms
Casual (반말)
열이 나다
yeori nada
'heat rises' — the casual, natural way Koreans describe having a fever
More Example Sentences
worried parent
아기 발열이 38도가 넘어요.
The baby's fever is over 38 degrees.
concerned about illness
해열제 먹어도 발열이 안 떨어져요.
The fever isn't going down even after antipyretics.
post-pandemic health
코로나 확진 후 발열 증상이 있었어요.
After a COVID diagnosis I had fever symptoms.
Cultural Context
발열 is clinical/medical terminology used in hospitals and on labels for medications. In everyday conversation Koreans say '열 나요' (I have a fever). Since COVID, temperature screening (발열 체크) became common at entries to buildings. '해열제' (fever reducer) like 어린이 타이레놀 is a household staple for parents.
Editorial note
We review entries like 발열 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
열이 나요.
I have a fever.
열이 안 떨어져요.
The fever won't go down.
해열제 먹었어요.
I took fever medicine.
Related Expressions
해열제
haeyeolje
fever reducer
체온
cheon
body temperature
열
yeol
fever/heat (casual)
감기
gamgi
cold (illness)
More Health & Medical Words
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