달 vs 개월 vs 월

Written By Steve Moon

Both of 달 and 개월 are counting noun for months, and 월 is different with those, which expresses each month with sino number -  such as 1월 is January, 2월 is February so on. Then, how are 달 and 개월 different?

🌙 1. 달 (dal)

  • Meaning: A native Korean word meaning “month.”

  • Usage: Common in casual speech and personal contexts more.

  • Numbers used: Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋 → 한 달, 두 달, 세 달).

  • Tone: Natural, friendly, and conversational.

Examples:

  • 우리 결혼한 지 한 달 안 됐어! → It’s been less than a month since we got married!

  • 한국에 온 지 네 달 됐어요. → It’s been 4 months since I came to Korea.

  • 휴가가 세 달이나 있어요. → I have even three months of vacation.



📅 2. 개월 (gaewol)

  • Meaning: A Sino-Korean (Chinese-origin) word that also means “month.”

  • Usage: Used in formal, written, or official contexts more — such as documents, contracts, reports, or news.

  • Numbers used: Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼 → 1개월, 2개월, 3개월).

  • Tone: Formal, objective, and businesslike.

Examples:

  • 계약 기간은 12개월입니다. → The contract period is 12 months.

  • 약정은 24개월이에요. → The subscription term is 24 months.

  • 수강 기간은 6개월 과정입니다. → The course lasts for 6 months.

🪄 Summary

Category

달 (dal)

개월 (gaewol)

Origin

Native Korean

Sino-Korean

Style

Casual, spoken

Formal, written

Numbers used

Native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋)

Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼)

Common contexts

Daily conversation, diary, letters

Contracts, forms, announcements

Examples

한 달, 두 달

1개월, 2개월

🔍 Example Comparison

  • “요가 학원에 다섯 달 동안 다녔어요.” → Natural, spoken Korean (I went to the Yoga Academy for five months.)

  • “이 요가 강좌는 5개월 과정입니다.” → Formal, used in documents (This Yoga lecture is a 5-month course.)



📆 3. 월 (wol) — “Month” (as a unit or name of a month)

1️⃣ Meaning

“월 (wol)” literally means “month” in Sino-Korean (Chinese-origin word).
It is used in order to express each month.

What we have to be careful is to remember 월 IS NOT A COUNTING NOUN!

2️⃣ Usage

 “월” is combined with Sino-number, and expresses each month.

 

Korean

Pronunciation

English

1월

일월 (il-wol)

January

2월

이월 (i-wol)

February

3월

삼월 (sam-wol)

March

...

...

...

12월

십이월 (sip-i-wol)

December

🪄 Example sentences:

  • 제 생일은 5월이에요. → My birthday is in May.

  • 지금은 11월이에요. → It’s November now.

Steve Moon
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