Dictionary — Entry No. 0662
여름
yeoreum · noun
여름
yeoreum
[YUH-reum]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Summer, the second of Korea’s four seasons. 여름 is characterized by intense heat, humidity, and the monsoon rainy season (장마). It evokes the beach, vibrant energy, late nights, and the carefree spirit of youth — alongside the very real exhaustion of Korean summer heat.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
SISTAR, dubbed ‘the queens of summer,’ made 여름 iconic with their hits ‘Loving U’ (2012) and ‘Touch My Body’ (2014), turning summer comebacks into annual K-pop cultural events. BTS’s explosive ‘Fire’ (불타오르네, 2016) channels 여름’s restless, live-for-today energy. The early Korean Wave classic ‘Summer Scent’ (여름향기, 2003) starring Son Ye-jin and Song Seung-heon established summer as the definitive season for K-drama romance.
Example Sentences
여름에는 수박이 최고야.
Yeoreume neun subagi choegoya.
Watermelon is the best in summer. (수박 is a quintessential Korean summer fruit; this sentiment is universally understood and endearing)
올 여름은 너무 더워서 힘들었어.
Ol yeoreumen neomu deowoseo himdeureosseo.
This summer was so hot it was tough. (올 = this year’s; 힘들다 = to be hard/tough — a common Korean summer complaint)
여름 방학에 뭐 할 거야?
Yeoreum banghage mwo hal geoya?
What are you going to do during summer vacation? (여름 방학 = the school summer break, typically July–August; a universal topic among Korean students)
⚠️ Don’t use yeoreum when…
Mistake 1: The ㅕ vowel in 여름 is not like the English ‘yo’ — it is a distinct Korean vowel closer to ‘yuh’ that takes dedicated practice to produce and distinguish from 야 or 유. Mistake 2: Assuming 여름 means sunshine — Korean summer includes the intense monsoon season (장마), so 여름 can just as easily imply heavy, relentless rain.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Summer Scent (여름향기, 2003) — Son Ye-jin plays a woman who experiences life-altering love during one summer, establishing 여름 as the season of transformation in early Korean Wave dramas.
- K-Pop: BTS — Fire (불타오르네)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.