Did you know that the word for “moon” in Korean is very easy to remember? Read on as we teach you how to say it plus other related Korean words in this article!
Today, we’ll quickly learn how to say “moon” in Korean.
An essential but simple piece of vocabulary is this object in the sky that’s vital for life on Earth as well: the moon. Besides beautifully illuminating our night skies, it’s also the moon that holds our planet in the right place with its gravity, manages our high and low tides, and is somewhat in charge of our weather, climate, and animals’ migration cycle.
Without the moon, there would be no life on Earth. Thus, shouldn’t we all know how to say this important noun in any language? We’ll go over related vocabulary, so that after this you will be ready to talk about the moon in all of its shapes throughout the month, such as the full moon and the crescent moon.
Are you ready to get started?
Contents
Different words for “moon” in Korean
In Korean, there are several words that can be used to say “moon” which depends on the context.
달 (dal)
The basic word for “moon” in the Korean language is 달 (dal).
When it comes to the word moon and all the related words, this is the word to remember. So, in a way, you can sigh of relief right now, as you do not need to learn numerous different words that would all mean moon.
Having only one syllable, its pronunciation is also quite easy, making it easy to remember too.
Sample sentences:
1. 달이 떴어요 (dari tteosseoyo)
The moon came up.
2. 달이 아주 밝네요 (dari aju bangneyo)
The moon is so bright.
3. 다음 보름달은 언제예요? (daeum boreumdareun eonjeyeyo?)
When is the next full moon?
4. 오늘 밤 달빛이 얼마나 밝은지 봐요! (oneul bam dalbichi eolmana balgeunji bwayo!)
Look at how bright the moonlight is tonight!
The word 달 (dal) is also used to say “month.”
Sample sentences:
1. 다음 달에 부산에 갈 거예요 (daeum dare busane gal geoyeyo)
I will go to Busan next month.
2. 한국에 산 지 몇 달 됐어요? (hanguge san ji myeot dal dwaesseoyo?)
How many months have you lived in Korea?
위성 (wiseong)
Another word related to “moon” is 위성 (wiseong), which means “satellite.” However, since the moon is Earth’s satellite, 위성 (wiseong) can be used to describe the moon. We’ve added an example in the sample sentences section below.
Sample sentence:
1. 달은 지구의 위성이다. (dareun jiguui wiseongida)
The moon is a satellite of the earth.
Below, you can find a list of words that are somehow related to the word and concept of the moon.
Korean words for moon phases
Here, you can quickly check out the Korean term for each different moon phase.
| English | Korean |
|---|---|
| New moon | 신월 (sinwol) |
| Crescent moon (at the start of the moon cycle) | 초승달 (choseungdal) |
| First quarter moon | 상현달 (sanghyeondal) |
| Half moon | 반달 (bandal) |
| Full moon | 보름달 (boreumdal) |
| Full moon | 만월 (manwol) |
| Last quarter moon | 하현달 (hahyeondal) |
| Crescent moon (at the end of the moon cycle) | 그믐달 (geumeumdal) |
Here are other words related to “moon.”
| English | Korean |
|---|---|
| Beginning of the month | 초승 (choseung) |
| End of the month | 그믐 (geumeum) |
| Fortnight | 보름 (boreum) |
| Half | |
| Month | |
| New | 신 (sin) |
| Moonlight | 달빛 (dalbit) |
| Light | |
| Lunar eclipse | 월식 (wolsik) |
| Total eclipse of the moon | 개기 월식 (gaegi wolsik) |
| Observing total eclipse of the moon | 개기월식을 관측하다 (gaegiwolsigeul gwancheukada) |
| Orbit | 궤도 (gwedo) |
| Solar eclipse | 일식 (ilsik) |
| Twilight | 황혼 (hwanghon) |
| Twilight | 땅거미 (ttanggeomi) |
| High tide | 고조 (gojo) |
| Low tide | 저조 (jeojo) |
| Moon landing | 달 착륙 (dal changnyuk) |
Wrap Up
And now you know how to say “moon” in Korean, as well as its related vocabulary! Perhaps you’ve even learned a little about the moon’s functions and cycles.
Next up, impress your friends by also learning more about the moon’s sister visible during the day, sun. Our article on sun in Korean will teach you about it. Or perhaps you’d like to move onto another related topic and learn about the Korean calendar, which uses lunar – so moon – cycles to determine important events?
What is the difference between 만월 and 보름달?
Hi Daniel, The difference is that 만월 is a Sino-Korean word which is originated from the Chinese word (滿月), and 보름달 is a pure Korean word. ^^