Korean word

원

Pronunciation

Romanizationwon

Meaning

  • nounwon

Example

지갑에 5000원 있어요.chi ga be 5000 won i sseo yo

There are 5,000 won in the wallet.

Illustration for 원 (won)

More examples

커피가 3,500 원이에요.keo pi ga 3 500 wo ni e yo

The coffee costs 3,500 won.

Core concept

A standard unit of money used to state prices and amounts in South Korea.

Common phrases

  • 오천 원o cheon won

    five thousand won

  • 만 원man won

    ten thousand won

  • 몇 원myeot won

    how many won

Similar words

돈ton: Money in general, including cash on hand and funds kept in a bank account.
현금hyeongeum: Physical money in paper notes and metal coins used for immediate payment.
동전tongjeon: A small piece of metal money often used for low-cost purchases or as change.
지폐chipye: Paper money issued by a bank with its value printed on it for everyday payments.

Definition in Korean

한국에서 화폐의 가치를 나타내는 단위로, 지폐와 동전에 쓰이며 물건값이나 금액을 말할 때 쓰는 명사han gu ge seo hwa pye ui ka chi reul na ta nae neun ta nwi ro chi pye wa tong jeo ne sseu i myeo mul geon gap ssi na keu mae geul mal hal ttae sseu neun myeong sa

Word origin

The name won comes from a Sino-Korean currency term traditionally linked to a character meaning round.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may confuse won with the past tense of win, but in a price it names money, not an action.

Other meanings

  • circlenoun

Related words

  • 원화wonhwaSouth Korean wonnoun
  • 천원권cheonwongwonone-thousand-won billnoun
  • 만원권manwongwonten-thousand-won billnoun

Word lists with this word