Korean Dictionary
How to say "First birthday (dol)" in Korean
“First birthday (dol)” in Korean is 돌 (pronounced "Dol").
돌
Dol
Usage & Context
A child's first birthday celebration, called dol in Korean. The dol celebration is a major event in Korean families.
Example Sentence
돌은 아이의 첫 생일입니다.
Dol is a child's first birthday.
How to use 돌 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “First birthday (dol)” is 돌, romanized as Dol.
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 돌.
Pronunciation Guide
돌 (Dol): Sounds like 'doll' in English. The 'o' is a bit more open, similar to the 'o' in 'door' but shorter.
More Example Sentences
Inviting friends/family to a doljanchi.
우리 아기 돌잔치에 꼭 와주세요!
Please definitely come to our baby's first birthday party!
Asking for gift ideas for a baby's dol.
돌 선물로 뭐가 좋을까요?
What would be a good gift for a first birthday?
Describing the doljabi event at a first birthday party.
아이가 돌잡이에서 연필을 잡았어요!
The child picked up a pencil at the doljabi!
Cultural Context
'Dol' (돌) is a child's first birthday, a huge milestone in Korean culture. It's celebrated with a 'doljanchi' (돌잔치), a large party for family and friends. The highlight is the 'doljabi' (돌잡이), where various items (pencil, money, thread, stethoscope, etc.) are laid out, and the child picks one, supposedly predicting their future. It's a joyous occasion, often with elaborate traditional clothing (hanbok) for the baby and parents, and a lavish spread of food.
Editorial note
We review entries like 돌 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
돌 축하해!
Happy first birthday!
돌잔치 언제야?
When is the doljanchi?
돌 선물
First birthday gift
Related Expressions
돌잔치
doljanchi
First birthday party
돌잡이
doljabi
Doljabi ceremony (picking items)
첫 생일
cheot saengil
First birthday (literal)
백일
baekil
100-day celebration
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