Korean · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Twenty" in Korean: 이십 / 스물
이십 / 스물isip / seumul
Twenty in Korean is 이십 / 스물 (isip / seumul). 이십 is the Sino-Korean form for 20; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 스물 is the native Korean form; 스무 is used before a general item counter.
Twenty: starting the exchange
이십 분만 기다려 주세요.isip bunman gidaryeo juseyo.
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How to pronounce 이십 / 스물
Say it
isip / seumul
/isip̚/
이십 / 스물 is read isip / seumul. In 스무 개, read the full phrase as seumu gae.
"Twenty" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 이십 / 스물isip / seumul | Twenty The inventory form for twenty. | The inventory form for twenty. |
| 스무 개seumu gae | 20 items 이십 is the Sino-Korean form for 20; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 스물 is the native Korean form; 스무 is used before a general item counter. | 이십 is the Sino-Korean form for 20; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 스물 is the native Korean form; 스무 is used before a general item counter. |
How to use 이십 / 스물 in real life
- 1Twenty: starting the exchange
이십 분만 기다려 주세요.
isip bunman gidaryeo juseyo.
Please wait just 20 minutes.
이십 is the Sino-Korean value used before the minute counter 분.
- 2Twenty: adding useful context
이십 더하기 이십은 얼마예요?
isip deohagi isibeun eolmayeyo?
What is 20 plus 20?
This calculation uses the Sino-Korean numeral 이십.
- 3Twenty: a different conversation
스무 개가 필요해요.
seumu gaega piryohaeyo.
I need 20 items.
스무 is the counting form used before 개 in this item quantity.
Mistakes English speakers make with 이십 / 스물
Incorrect: 스물 개가 필요해요.
Correct: 스무 개가 필요해요.
When practicing twenty, before the item counter 개, use the contracted numeral 스무 instead of 스물.
Incorrect: 스물 분만 기다려 주세요.
Correct: 이십 분만 기다려 주세요.
When practicing twenty, minutes use Sino-Korean 이십, rather than the native number 스물 used with many item counters.
Good to know
이십 is the Sino-Korean form for 20; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 스물 is the native Korean form; 스무 is used before a general item counter.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led time numbers and colors study exercise: two sentences with 이십 / 스물
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
이십 분만 기다려 주세요.
isip bunman gidaryeo juseyo.
Please wait just 20 minutes.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
이십 더하기 이십은 얼마예요?
isip deohagi isibeun eolmayeyo?
What is 20 plus 20?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Twenty" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Twenty" in Korean
What does 이십 mean?
Twenty in Korean is 이십 / 스물 (isip / seumul). 이십 is the Sino-Korean form for 20; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 스물 is the native Korean form; 스무 is used before a general item counter.
When should I say 스무 개?
이십 is the Sino-Korean form for 20; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 스물 is the native Korean form; 스무 is used before a general item counter.
How does 스무 개 differ from the basic expression?
스무 개 means “20 items”. 이십 is the Sino-Korean form for 20; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 스물 is the native Korean form; 스무 is used before a general item counter.
Can I use 이십 in a full sentence?
이십 분만 기다려 주세요. means “Please wait just 20 minutes.” 이십 is the Sino-Korean form for 20; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 스물 is the native Korean form; 스무 is used before a general item counter.
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