소수

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 素數 (“prime number”), with compound/genitive tensing applied.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [sʰo̞s͈u]
• Phonetic hangul: [소쑤]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	sosu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	sosu
McCune–Reischauer?	sossu
Yale Romanization?	soqswu

Noun

소수 • (sosu) (hanja 素數)

1. prime number (natural number)

   Synonym: (North Korea) 씨수 (ssisu)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 小數.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈsʰo̞(ː)sʰu]
• Phonetic hangul: [소(ː)수]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	sosu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	sosu
McCune–Reischauer?	sosu
Yale Romanization?	sōswu

Noun

소수 • (sosu) (hanja 小數)

1. decimal

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 少數 (“minority”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈsʰo̞(ː)sʰu]
• Phonetic hangul: [소(ː)수]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	sosu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	sosu
McCune–Reischauer?	sosu
Yale Romanization?	sōswu

Noun

소수 • (sosu) (hanja 少數)

1. minority