How to say “Merry Christmas” in Korean
- 메리 크리스마스meri keuriseumaseu
Merry Christmas
"Merry Christmas" in Korean is 메리 크리스마스 (meri keuriseumaseu), borrowed straight from English and fine to say to anyone. A more Korean way is 즐거운 크리스마스 보내세요 (jeulgeoun keuriseumaseu bonaeseyo), which means "have a merry Christmas."
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 메리 크리스마스 meri keuriseumaseu | Any | The most common greeting. It works for friends, coworkers, and cards. |
| 크리스마스 잘 보내 keuriseumaseu jal bonae | Casual | "Have a good Christmas" to a friend, often said when you part before the holiday. |
| 즐거운 크리스마스 보내세요 jeulgeoun keuriseumaseu bonaeseyo | Polite | "Have a merry Christmas." Warm and polite for coworkers, teachers, or shop owners you know. |
| 즐거운 성탄절 보내세요 jeulgeoun seongtanjeol bonaeseyo | Polite | 성탄절 is the traditional word for Christmas Day. It sounds a little more classic and is common in cards and at church. |
| 즐거운 성탄절 보내십시오 jeulgeoun seongtanjeol bonaesipsio | Formal | Very formal, for business messages or announcements. |
Examples
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Sending a group text to friends
Saying bye to a classmate before winter break
Leaving the office on December 24th
Tips
Christmas is a public holiday in Korea, but for many people it is more of a couples' day than a family day. Christmas Eve dates, cake, and lights are a big part of it.
Koreans pronounce 메리 크리스마스 with Korean sounds, roughly "meh-ri keu-ri-seu-ma-seu." Saying it the English way is also understood everywhere.
The verb 보내다 means "to spend (time)." So 잘 보내 and 즐거운 ... 보내세요 work for any holiday: just swap in the holiday's name.
Questions learners ask
Do Koreans celebrate Christmas?
Yes. December 25th is a national holiday in Korea. Many people go on dates, meet friends, or eat Christmas cake, and churches hold services.
What does 성탄절 mean?
성탄절 (seongtanjeol) is the traditional Korean word for Christmas Day. It is used on calendars, in the news, and in more formal greetings.