Native numbers

숫자 (고유어)

Native numbers count things you can touch — hours, age, cups of coffee. 하나 becomes 한 in front of a counter.

10 numbersAgeGrammar: 살12 min

Today’s goal

Count 1–10 and say an age with 살.

Words

하나

hana · 1

둘

dul · 2

셋

set · 3

넷

net · 4

다섯

daseot · 5

여섯

yeoseot · 6

일곱

ilgop · 7

여덟

yeodeol · 8

아홉

ahop · 9

열

yeol · 10

살

sal · years old

하나 → 한 before a counter

Use native numbers with 살 (years old), 개 (things), 시 (o'clock), 명 (people). The first four change shape: 하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네. So one o'clock is 한 시, not 하나 시. Sino numbers (next lesson) are for money, dates, and phone numbers.

Sentences

하나, 둘, 셋.

hana, dul, set. · One, two, three.

저는 스무 살이에요.

jeoneun seumu sarieyo. · I'm twenty. (스물 → 스무 살)

커피 한 잔 주세요.

keopi han jan juseyo. · One coffee, please.

두 개 주세요.

du gae juseyo. · Two (items), please.

열 살이에요.

yeol sarieyo. · I'm ten.

몇 살이에요?

myeot sarieyo? · How old are you?

Say it out loud

Your line

하나 둘 셋 넷 다섯

hana dul set net daseot · Count to five without looking.

A question Korean dramas ask earlier than English ones — 몇 살이에요? · How old are you?

Practice these sentences ->