KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › 월 읽기 (시월)
Korean Grammar “월 읽기 (시월)”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 2)
Explanation
제 생일은 시월 이십 일이에요.
Months are read with Sino-Korean numerals plus “월,” but June and October are irregular: 유월 and 시월. The sentence means “My birthday is October 20.” “십월” and “육월” are not used, so memorize these two forms.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 제 생일은 시월 이십 일이에요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 제 | ㅈ+ㅔ | je |
| 생일은 | ||
| 생 | ㅅ+ㅐ+ㅇ | saeng |
| 일 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㄹ | [이] i |
| 은 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄴ | [른] reun |
| 시월 | ||
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 월 | ㅇ+ㅝ+ㄹ | wol |
| 이십 | ||
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | i |
| 십 | ㅅ+ㅣ+ㅂ | sip |
| 일이에요 | ||
| 일 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㄹ | [이] i |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [리] ri |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 일은 → [이른]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 생일 | noun | birthday | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 제 생일은 ____월 이십 일이에요.
Show the answer
Answer: 제 생일은 시월 이십 일이에요.
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