Korean word

얼마

Pronunciation

Romanizationeolma

Meaning

  • adverbhow long

Example

여기까지 얼마 걸려요?yeo gi kka ji eol ma keol lyeo yo

How long does it take to get here?

Illustration for 얼마 (how long)

More examples

숙제는 얼마 남았어요?suk jje neun eol ma na ma sseo yo

How much homework is left?

Core concept

A request for a rough measure of how much, how long, or how far something is.

Common phrases

  • 얼마 남았어요eol ma na ma sseo yo

    how much is left

Similar words

얼마나eolmana: Asks about the amount or degree of something, including how long it lasts.
얼마쯤eolmajjeum: Seeks a close estimate of an amount, price, or length of time.

Definition in Korean

값이나 수량, 소요 시간 등의 정도를 간단히 묻는 의문 부사.kap ssi na su ryang so yo si gan teung ui cheong do reul kan dan hi mun neun ui mun pu sa

Word origin

얼마 (eolma, "question word for amount, time, or distance") is native Korean rather than a word formed from Chinese-based Korean parts, although its older history is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In English, how long asks about time and how far asks about distance, while 얼마 (eolma, "how much or how long") can cover both.

Other meanings

  • how muchadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word