Korean Dictionary
How to say "January" in Korean
“January” in Korean is 1월 (pronounced "il-wol").
1월
il-wol
Usage & Context
The word for January, the first month of the year. This is commonly used in dates and New Year celebrations.
Example Sentence
1월은 새해의 시작이에요.
January is the start of the new year.
How to use 1월 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “January” is 1월, romanized as il-wol.
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 1월.
Pronunciation Guide
"1월" is pronounced "il-wol." The first syllable, "일" (il), sounds like the "ill" in "illness." The second syllable, "월" (wol), sounds like "wall." Put them together for "ill-wall," with the 'l' sound from 'il' subtly connecting to 'wol'.
More Example Sentences
Explaining a major holiday in Korea.
1월 1일은 신정이에요.
January 1st is Sinjeong (the Solar New Year).
Making a New Year's resolution.
1월부터 다이어트 시작할 거예요.
I'm going to start a diet from January.
Describing the weather in Korea.
한국의 1월은 아주 추워요.
January in Korea is very cold.
Cultural Context
In Korea, "1월" (January) marks the start of the solar new year (신정, Sinjeong), which is a public holiday. However, the more significant traditional New Year celebration is "설날" (Seollal), the Lunar New Year, which usually falls in late January or February. Many Koreans make New Year's resolutions (새해 다짐) in January, similar to Western cultures, often focusing on health or personal improvement.
Editorial note
We review entries like 1월 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
1월 초
Early January
1월 말
Late January
새해 복 많이 받으세요!
Happy New Year! (Literally: Receive many New Year's blessings!)
Related Expressions
2월
i-wol
February
12월
sip-i-wol
December
새해
sae-hae
New Year
신정
sin-jeong
Solar New Year (Jan 1st)
More Numbers and Time Words
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