Korean Dictionary
How to say "Winter" in Korean
“Winter” in Korean is 겨울 (pronounced "Gyeoul").
겨울
Gyeoul
Usage & Context
Korean winters (December-February) can be very cold, especially inland areas. Snow festivals like the Pyeongchang Snow Festival (평창 눈 축제) and Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival (화천 산천어 축제) are popular. Winter sports at ski resorts like Vivaldi Park and High1 attract many visitors.
Example Sentence
한국 겨울은 정말 추워요. 두꺼운 옷이 필요해요.
Korean winter is really cold. You need thick clothes.
How to use 겨울 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Winter” is 겨울, romanized as Gyeoul.
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 겨울.
Pronunciation Guide
Two syllables: 'gyeo-ul.' 'Gyeo' is a quick glide from 'g' to 'yuh,' and 'ul' is a soft 'ool.' Spoken fast it sounds like 'GYUH-ool.'
More Example Sentences
Chatting at a street food stall
겨울에는 붕어빵이 제일 맛있어요.
In winter, bungeoppang is the tastiest thing.
Small talk with a new acquaintance
이번 겨울에 스키장 가본 적 있어요?
Have you been to a ski resort this winter?
Preparing for cold weather
겨울 옷 꺼내야 할 것 같아요.
I think I need to pull out my winter clothes.
Cultural Context
Korean winters are dry and can plunge well below zero, especially with wind chill from Siberian cold fronts that Koreans call 시베리아 한파. Winter food culture revolves around street snacks — 붕어빵, 호빵, 호떡, 군고구마 — and hearty stews like 김치찌개 and 순두부찌개. Many families also make 김장 (large-batch kimchi) in late November so they have fermented kimchi all winter; it was even listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.
Editorial note
We review entries like 겨울 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
너무 추워요.
It's so cold.
겨울이 싫어요.
I don't like winter.
눈이 와요!
It's snowing!
Related Expressions
눈
nun
Snow
김장
gimjang
Winter kimchi-making tradition
붕어빵
bungeoppang
Fish-shaped red bean pastry (winter snack)
한파
hanpa
Cold wave / cold snap
More Nature Words
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