Key Facts
- Hangul: 3월 (삼월); Revised Romanization: samwol
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Register: Neutral, standard month name.
- Hanja: 三月 (三 three + 月 month)
March in Korean: How Do You Pronounce 3월 (삼월)?
Say sa-mwol. The final ㅁ of 삼 moves into 월, which starts with a vowel sound, so there is no break after sam. The romanization samwol is written by syllable, but the sound links.
Example Sentences with 3월 (삼월)
3월에 학교가 시작해요.
Samwore hakgyoga sijakaeyo
School starts in March.
에 marks "in March", and 시작해요 says that school begins. Korean schools start their year in March.
3월은 아직 쌀쌀해요.
Samworeun ajik ssalssalhaeyo
March is still chilly.
A weather remark: 쌀쌀해요 means chilly, and 아직 means still, so spring has not fully arrived.
3월 1일은 공휴일이에요.
Samwol irireun gonghyuirieyo
March 1 is a public holiday.
A date: 3월 1일 is March 1, read samwol iril, and 공휴일 is a public holiday.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 3월 초 | early March |
| 3월 말 | late March |
| 3월에 | in March |
| 3월 1일 | March 1st |
초 and 말 mean "early" and "late" and attach straight to the month; 3월에 means "in March".
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 셋월 / ✗ sam-wol, with a break
Correct: ✓ 삼월, said sa-mwol
Why: months always use Sino-Korean numbers, and 셋 is native. In pronunciation the ㅁ links into the next syllable.
3월 (삼월) Compared with Similar Words
The related words are events and a season around the month rather than rival words for it.
| Word | Meaning | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|---|
| 삼일절 | March 1st Independence Movement Day | 삼일절 is the public holiday on March 1, a single day inside the month. |
| 새 학기 | new semester | 새 학기 is the new school term, which starts in March. |
| 봄 | spring | 봄 is the season, which starts around March and lasts longer than one month. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
삼월 is Sino-Korean, from 三月: 三 (three) plus 月 (month).
Cultural Note
The Korean school year starts in March, so March marks the start of a new semester (새 학기). The holiday 삼일절 falls on March 1, and 봄 (spring) begins around the same time.
Confirming the Date of a March Class
A student checks when a course begins. The staff member gives a month and day, then repeats them to confirm the appointment.
Student
수업은 언제 시작해요?
Sueobeun eonje sijakaeyo?
When does the class start?
Staff member
삼월 오일에 시작해요.
Samwol oire sijakaeyo.
It starts on March 5.
Student
삼월 오일 맞아요?
Samwol oil majayo?
March 5, right?
Staff member
네, 삼월 오일이에요.
Ne, samwol oirieyo.
Yes, it’s March 5.
The spoken date 삼월 오일 corresponds to the written date 3월 5일. 월 marks the month and 일 marks the day of the month. In the second line, 에 follows the complete date, rather than appearing after both the month and day. Repeating the date is a natural way to confirm that you heard it correctly.
Reading March Dates without Swapping the Numbers
Korean dates put the larger unit first: year, month, then day. A date written 3월 5일 means March 5, not May 3. The labels 월 and 일 identify the units.
For an event happening in March, use 3월에. For an event on March 5, use 3월 5일에. The final 에 covers the whole date phrase. The dialogue uses Hangul for the spoken numbers; timetables normally use digits.
이번 3월 means this coming or current March, depending on the time of speaking. 작년 3월 means March last year, and 내년 3월 means March next year. Add a year expression when the year is unclear.
Early March, Mid-March and the End of March
3월 초 means early March, 3월 중순 means mid-March, and 3월 말 means late March or the end of March. These are useful periods rather than exact dates for an appointment. A plan for 3월 초 still needs a day if two people are arranging to meet.
3월까지 means until or by March, with the action and context deciding which English translation fits. For a deadline, check for a day or time as well. The phrase alone leaves more uncertainty than a complete date. 3월부터 means from March onward, so it marks the beginning of a period rather than its ending.
Where Will You Encounter 3월?
School notices and course schedules use 3월 when announcing the beginning of a term. 새 학기 means new semester, while 개학 means the resumption or start of school after a break. These words can appear beside the month; they name the school event rather than a different word for March.
On calendars and posters, the numeral spelling 3월 is easier to scan than 삼월. The Hangul spelling is useful in pronunciation explanations or a spoken script. Neither spelling makes the month more polite. A formal notice and a casual message can both use 3월, with the rest of the sentence setting the tone.
Weather descriptions such as the chilly March example describe conditions, not a fixed definition of the month. Likewise, 봄 is a season, while 3월 is a calendar month. If someone gives a spring travel plan, you still need the month and dates before you know when they will arrive.
Words beside March on a Calendar
| Korean | Meaning | How it relates to March |
|---|---|---|
| 2월 | February | The month immediately before March. |
| 4월 | April | The month immediately after March. |
| 중순 | middle part of a month | Makes 3월 중순 mean mid-March. |
| 새 학기 | new semester | Names the school period associated with March in Korea. |
The months lesson teaches the calendar sequence. Continue with April to read schedules that run across the end of March.
Quick Self-Test
- What date does 3월 5일 mean?
- Does 3월 초 give an exact appointment date?
- Which means from March onward: 3월부터 or 3월까지?
Show answers
- March 5. 월 identifies the month and 일 identifies the day.
- No. It means early March, so a specific day is still needed.
- 3월부터. 3월까지 marks an endpoint, meaning until or by March in context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "March" in Korean?
Write 3월 and read it 삼월 (samwol), pronounced sa-mwol. It is the Sino-Korean number three plus 월, month.
Why is March called 삼월?
Months use Sino-Korean numbers, and 삼 is the Sino-Korean three. Add 월, month, and you get 삼월, the third month.
What happens in Korea in March?
The school year begins, so March brings the new semester (새 학기). March 1 is 삼일절, a public holiday marking the 1919 independence movement.
Could I say 셋월?
No. 셋 is a native number, used for counting things. Months always use Sino-Korean numerals, so the only correct form is 삼월.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Months word list groups 3월 (삼월) with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare with the spring page.