Korean Numbers 1-20 – How to count up to twenty

In this article, we will teach you about the Korean numbers 1-20.

Here is how Koreans count from 1 to 20 in general. Note that in Korean, there are two different number systems. The Sino-Korean number system and the Native Korean number system.

To start, here are the numbers for the Sino-Korean number system:

1. 일 (il) – One
2. 이 (i) – Two
3. 삼 (sam) – Three
4. 사 (sa) – Four
5. 오 (o) – Five
6. 육 (yuk) – Six
7. 칠 (chil) – Seven
8. 팔 (pal) – Eight
9. 구 (gu) – Nine
10. 십 (sip) – Ten
11. 십일 (sibil) – Eleven
12. 십이 (sibi) – Twelve
13. 십삼 (sipsam) – Thirteen
14. 십사 (sipsa) – Fourteen
15. 십오 (sibo) – Fifteen
16. 십육 (sibyuk) – Sixteen
17. 십칠 (sipchil) – Seventeen
18. 십팔 (sippal) – Eighteen
19. 십구 (sipgu) – Nineteen
20. 이십 (isip) – Twenty

Now that you know these numbers, we’ll help you learn everything else you need to know about Korean numbers 1 through 20. Let’s get to it!

What are Sino-Korean numbers?

Sino-Korean numbers are based on characters in the Chinese language and are used to indicate dates, phone numbers, and addresses. It is also used when counting money. If you’d like to know more about Chinese characters in the Korean language, we have a separate article about Hanja.

Sino-Korean Numbers 1-20

Below is the list of Korean numbers from 1-20 using the first Korean counting system, Sino-Korean number system.

1. 일 (il) – One
2. 이 (i) – Two
3. 삼 (sam) – Three
4. 사 (sa) – Four
5. 오 (o) – Five
6. 육 (yuk) – Six
7. 칠 (chil) – Seven
8. 팔 (pal) – Eight
9. 구 (gu) – Nine
10. 십 (sip) – Ten
11. 십일 (sibil) – Eleven
12. 십이 (sibi) – Twelve
13. 십삼 (sipsam) – Thirteen
14. 십사 (sipsa) – Fourteen
15. 십오 (sibo) – Fifteen
16. 십육 (sibyuk) – Sixteen
17. 십칠 (sipchil) – Seventeen
18. 십팔 (sippal) – Eighteen
19. 십구 (sipgu) – Nineteen
20. 이십 (isip) – Twenty

What are Native Korean numbers?

Native Korean numbers are what Koreans generally use for counting in everyday life, such as time, age, number of items, or people. These can also be used with Korean counter words, such as 개 (gae), 명(myeong), or 벌 (beol).

Native Korean Numbers 1-20

Here are the Korean numbers from 1-20 using the Native Korean number system.

1. 하나 (hana) – One
2. 둘 (dul) – Two
3. 셋 (set) – Three
4. 넷 (net) – Four
5. 다섯 (daseot) – Five
6. 여섯 (yeoseot) – Six
7. 일곱 (ilgop) – Seven
8. 여덟 (yeodeol) – Eight
9. 아홉 (ahop) – Nine
10. 열 (yeol) – Ten
11. 열하나 (yeolhana) – Eleven
12. 열둘 (yeoldul) – Twelve
13. 열셋 (yeolset) – Thirteen
14. 열넷 (yeollet) – Fourteen
15. 열다섯 (yeoldaseot) – Fifteen
16. 열여섯 (yeoryeoseot) – Sixteen
17. 열일곱 (yeorilgop) – Seventeen
18. 열여덟 (yeoryeodeol) – Eighteen
19. 열아홉 (yeorahop) – Nineteen
20. 스물 (seumul) – Twenty

Which Korean numbers should I learn first?

We recommend learning Sino-Korean numbers first for two reasons. First, it is easier to learn. Sino-Korean number words are usually shorter than the Korean words for Native Korean numbers, so they’re easier to memorize.

Secondly, it is more practical. The Sino-Korean number system is used to tell dates, phone numbers, and addresses. It is also used for larger numbers, such as hundreds or thousands, which are essential words in Korean currency.

How to say the Korean numbers 1-20

Let’s learn how to say each number further with the help of the sample sentences below.

1 in Korean

하나 (hana) / 일 (il)

Native: 그녀는 사과 하나를 가지고 있어요. (Geunyeoneun sagwa hanareul gajigo isseoyo.)

She has one apple.

Sino: 일 층에 가주세요. (Il chunge gajuseyo.)

Please go to the first floor.

2 in Korean

둘 (dul) / 이 (i)

Native: 둘만 남았어요. (Dulman namasseoyo.)

Only two are left.

Sino: 이 달러예요. (I dalleoyeyo.)

It’s two dollars.

3 in Korean

셋 (set) / 삼 (sam)

Native: 셋이서 함께 갈까요? (Sesiseo hamkke galkkayo?)

Shall the three of us go together?

Sino: 삼 일 후에 봐요. (Sam il hue bwayo.)

See you in three days.

4 in Korean

넷 (net) / 사 (sa)

Native: 넷이서 게임을 했어요. (Nesisseo geimeul haesseoyo.)

Four of us played a game.

Sino: 사 층으로 가세요. (Sa cheungeuro gaseyo.)

Go to the fourth floor.

5 in Korean

다섯 (daseot) / 오 (o)

Native: 다섯 명이 왔어요. (Daseot myeongi wasseoyo.)

Five people came.

Sino: 오 분만 기다려 주세요. (O bunman gidaryeo juseyo.)

Please wait for five minutes.

6 in Korean

여섯 (yeoseot) / 육 (yuk)

Native: 여섯 시에 만나요. (Yeoseot sie mannayo.)

Let’s meet at six o’clock.

Sino: 육 번을 눌러주세요. (Yuk beoneul nulleojuseyo.)

Please press number six.

7 in Korean

일곱 (ilgop) / 칠 (chil)

Native: 일곱 개의 색이 있어요. (Ilgop gae-ui saek-i isseoyo.)

There are seven colors.

Sino: 칠은 행운의 번호예요. (Chireun haengunui beonhoyeyo.)

Seven is a lucky number.

8 in Korean

여덟 (yeodeol) / 팔 (pal)

Native: 여덟 살 때 학교에 갔어요. (Yeodeol sal ttae hakgyoe gasseoyo.)

I went to school when I was eight.

Sino: 팔 번 버스를 타세요. (Pal beon beoseureul taseyo.)

Please take the bus number 8.

9 in Korean

아홉 (ahop) / 구 (gu)

Native: 아홉 개를 샀어요. (Ahop gae-reul sasseoyo.)

I bought nine of them.

Sino: 구 층에 있어요. (Gu chunge isseoyo.) –

It’s on the ninth floor.

10 in Korean

열 (yeol) / 십 (ship)

Native: 열 사람이 왔어요. (Yeol sarami wasseoyo.) –

Ten people came.

Sino: 십 분만 더 기다려주세요. (Ship bunman deo gidaryeo juseyo.)

Please wait ten more minutes.

11 in Korean

열하나 (yeolhana) / 십일 (ship-il)

Native: 열하나의 별이 빛나고 있어요. (Yeolhanaui byeori bitnago isseoyo.) –

Eleven stars are shining.

Sino: 십일 월에 만나요. (Sibil wole mannayo.)

Let’s meet in November.

12 in Korean

열둘 (yeoldul) / 십이 (sip-i)

Native: 모두 합해서 열둘이요. (modu hapaeseo yeolduriyo.) –

It’s twelve in total.

Sino: 십이 월은 겨울이에요. (Sibi woleun gyeourieyo.)

December is winter.

13 in Korean

열셋 (yeolset) / 십삼 (sip-sam)

Native: 열셋까지 셀 수 있어요? (yeolsetkkaji sel su isseoyo?) –

Can you count to 13?

Sino: 십삼 일은 금요일이에요. (Sipsam ireun geumyoirieyo.)

The thirteenth is a Friday.

14 in Korean

열넷 (yeollet) / 십사 (sip-sa)

Native: 열넷은 너무 많아요. (yeolleseun neomu manayo)

Fourteen is too much.

Sino: 십사 호선을 타세요. (Sipsa hoseoneul taseyo.)

Take line fourteen.

15 in Korean

열다섯 (yeoldaseot) / 십오 (sip-o)

Native: 열다섯 권의 책을 읽었어요. (Yeoldaseot gwon-ui chaeg-eul ilgeosseoyo.) –

I read fifteen books.

Sino: 십오 분만 기다려 주세요. (Siboo bunman gidaryeo juseyo.)

Please wait for fifteen minutes.

16 in Korean

열여섯 (yeolyeoseot) / 십육 (sip-yuk)

Native: 열여섯 살 때 콘서트에 갔어요. (Yeolyeoseot sal ttae konseoteue gasseoyo.) –

I went to a concert at sixteen.

Sino: 십육 일에 시험이 있어요. (Sipyuk ire siheomi isseoyo.)

There’s an exam on the sixteenth.

17 in Korean

열일곱 (yeorilgop) / 십칠 (sip-chil)

Native: 열일곱 개의 선물을 받았어요. (Yeolilgop gae-ui seonmureul badassseoyo.) –

I received seventeen gifts.

Sino: 내가 묵을 방은 십칠 호예요. (naega mugeul bangeun sipchil hoyeyo.) –

The room I’ll be staying in is room 17.

18 in Korean

열여덟 (yeoryeodeol) / 십팔 (sip-pal)

Native: 열여덟 살 때 대학에 갔어요. (Yeolyeodeol sal ttae daehake gasseoyo.)

I went to college at eighteen.

Sino: 십팔 번 버스를 타세요. (Sippal beon beoseureul taseyo.)

Take bus number eighteen.

19 in Korean

열아홉 (yeorahop) / 십구 (sip-gu)

Native: 열아홉 살 때 해외여행을 갔어요. (Yeolahop sal ttae haewaeyeohaenge gasseoyo.)

I went on an overseas trip at nineteen.

Sino: 십구 일은 목요일이에요. (Sipgu ireun mogyoirieyo.)

The nineteenth is a Thursday.

20 in Korean

스물 (seumul) / 이십 (i-sip)

Native: 스물 다음은 스물 하나예요. (Seumul daeumeun seumul hanayeyo.)

After twenty, it’s twenty-one.

Sino: 이십 분 후에 만나요. (Isip bun hue mannayo.)

Let’s meet in twenty minutes.

Wrap Up

Counting in Korean isn’t as hard as it seems, right? Now, you know how to count up to 20 in the Korean language using the two Korean number systems. 잘했어요 (good job)!

If you want to start learning Korean numbers beyond 20, we will teach you all about it in this article.