사흘

From Middle Korean 사ᄋᆞᆯ〮 (sàól), from Proto-Koreanic *se (“three”) + *hoL (“day”). Cognate with Korean 사흘 (saheul).

• IPA^(key): /sʰa̠ɦɨɭ/

사흘 (saheul)

1. three days

First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 사ᄋᆞᆯ〮 (Yale: sàól), from Proto-Koreanic *se (“three”) + *hoL (“day”). Also attested in the Bullyu dugongbu si eonhae (分類杜工部詩諺解 / 분류두공부시언해), 1481, as Middle Korean 사ᄒᆞᆯ〮 (Yale: sàhól).

Cognate with Jeju 사흘 (saheul).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

• South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 사흘의 / 사흘에 / 사흘까지

  Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch only on the first syllable, and lowers the pitch of subsequent suffixes.

사흘 • (saheul)

1. three days
2. (rare) the third day of the month

• Younger speakers often prefer Sino-Korean 3일 (sam il).
• This word is sometimes conflated with 나흘 (naheul, “four days”) due to mistaken association with Sino-Korean 사 (四, sa, “four”), but this usage is proscribed and considered childish.