Korean Dictionary
How to say "Twelve" in Korean
“Twelve” in Korean is 열두 (pronounced "yeoldu").
열두
yeoldu
Usage & Context
The native Korean number for twelve, formed by combining ten and two. This is commonly used in telling time and everyday counting.
Example Sentence
달이 열두 개 있어요.
There are twelve months.
How to use 열두 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Twelve” is 열두, romanized as yeoldu.
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 열두.
Pronunciation Guide
The '열' (yeol) sounds like 'yull' in 'yummy' followed by a quick 'ol' sound, similar to 'yol'. The '두' (du) is pronounced like 'doo' in 'do', with a soft 'd' sound.
More Example Sentences
Describing a regular daily routine or schedule.
열두 시에 점심 먹어요.
We eat lunch at twelve o'clock.
Stating a basic, factual piece of information.
일 년은 열두 달이에요.
A year has twelve months.
Making a reservation for a group at a restaurant or event.
열두 명 예약했어요.
I reserved for twelve people.
Cultural Context
열두 (yeoldu) is another essential native Korean number. It's very frequently used for telling time, such as 열두 시 (yeoldu si - 12 o'clock), and for counting months, 열두 달 (yeoldu dal - 12 months). Mastering these native Korean numbers is fundamental for everyday communication, especially for quantities and age up to 99.
Editorial note
We review entries like 열두 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
열두 시 정각
Exactly twelve o'clock
열두 번째
Twelfth (ordinal)
열두 개
Twelve items
Related Expressions
열
yeol
Ten
둘
dul
Two
열두 시
yeoldu si
Twelve o'clock
열두 달
yeoldu dal
Twelve months
More Numbers and Time Words
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