Korean word

설날

Pronunciation

Romanizationseollal

Meaning

  • nounKorean Lunar New Year

Example

우리는 설날에 떡국을 먹어요.u ri neun seol la re tteok kku geul meo geo yo

We eat rice cake soup on the Korean Lunar New Year.

Illustration for 설날 (Korean Lunar New Year)

More examples

아이들은 설날에 세배를 해서 세뱃돈을 받는다.a i deu reun seol la re se bae reul hae seo se baet tto neul pan neun da

Children perform a formal New Year's bow on the Korean Lunar New Year and receive gift money.

Core concept

A family-centered holiday that welcomes the lunar New Year with shared food, respect for ancestors, and warm wishes.

Common phrases

  • 설날 준비seol lal chun bi

    Korean Lunar New Year preparations

  • 설날 인사seol lal in sa

    Korean Lunar New Year greetings

  • 설날 민속놀이seol lal min song no ri

    Korean Lunar New Year traditional games

Similar words

음력설eumnyeoksseol: A formal name for the New Year celebration based on the lunar calendar.
설seol: A common short name for the lunar New Year and the holiday period around it.
명절myeongjeol: A traditional festival observed through family gatherings, rituals, and seasonal celebrations.

Definition in Korean

음력으로 새해를 맞아 가족과 친지가 모여 차례를 지내고 떡국을 먹으며 덕담을 주고받는 명절eum nyeo geu ro sae hae reul ma ja ka jok kkwa chin ji ga mo yeo cha rye reul chi nae go tteok kku geul meo geu myeo teok tta meul chu go ban neun myeong jeol

Word origin

The word is a native Korean compound of 설 (seol, "New Year") and 날 (ral, "day"), naming the day that begins the lunar year.

Usage tips

  • Unlike New Year's Day in many English-speaking countries, this holiday follows the lunar calendar, so its date changes on the Western calendar each year.

Opposites

Related words

  • 설맞이seolmajiKorean New Year observancenoun
  • 설빔seolbimnew clothes for Korean New Yearnoun

Word lists with this word