Korean Dictionary
How to say "Noon" in Korean
“Noon” in Korean is 정오 (pronounced "jeongoh").
정오
jeongoh
Usage & Context
The word for noon, the middle of the day at 12 PM. This is commonly used in lunch time and time expressions.
Example Sentence
정오에 밥을 먹어요.
I eat lunch at noon.
How to use 정오 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Noon” is 정오, romanized as jeongoh.
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 정오.
Pronunciation Guide
To pronounce '정오' (jeongoh), 'jeong' is like 'jung' in 'jungle', with the 'eo' vowel similar to the 'aw' in 'saw' but shorter, followed by a soft 'ng' sound. 'Oh' is pronounced like the 'oh' in 'go'. The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Making lunch plans with someone.
정오에 점심 먹으러 갈까요?
Shall we go for lunch at noon?
Announcing a departure time for public transport.
기차는 정오에 출발합니다.
The train departs at noon.
Stating office or work break hours.
정오부터 오후 1시까지 휴식 시간입니다.
Break time is from noon to 1 PM.
Cultural Context
Similar to '자정' for midnight, '정오' is the formal term for noon. In everyday conversation, '낮 12시' (nat yeol-du-si), meaning '12 o'clock in the day,' is more frequently used. '정오' appears in official schedules, news reports, or formal announcements. You might hear it in a historical K-drama setting or a formal business context, emphasizing precision.
Editorial note
We review entries like 정오 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
정오 뉴스
Noon news
정오까지
Until noon
정오 무렵
Around noon
Related Expressions
낮 12시
nat yeol-du-si
12 PM (more common colloquial term)
점심시간
jeomsim-sigan
Lunchtime
오후
ohu
PM / Afternoon (related time period)
자정
jajeong
Midnight (opposite of noon)
More Numbers and Time Words
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