Korean verbs and adjectives: the polite present and past, family by family

All 327, each with the dictionary form, the polite present in -ayo/-eoyo, the polite past, the English meaning and an example sentence — sorted by the way the stem meets its ending, not by the alphabet.

Why sorted like this

Every Korean verb and adjective is a stem with endings stuck to it, and the ending that shows most is the polite -ayo/-eoyo. Most stems simply take it; some pull it into one syllable; and a few families change the stem itself, by a rule that holds for the whole family — a final p that turns into u, a final t that turns into l, a final s that disappears. English learns its irregular verbs one by one. Korean ones are learned a family at a time, and once you know the rule, you know every member. That is why these 327 are sorted by family, easiest first, and why the last two families hold the look-alikes that are perfectly regular.

Find a verb

327 verbs.

Regular, with 아요

27 verbs

Take 다 off the dictionary form and what is left is the stem. The polite present is the stem plus 아요 or 어요, and the choice is made by the last vowel of the stem alone: ㅏ or ㅗ (and the rare ㅑ) takes 아요, every other vowel takes 어요. 앉다 becomes 앉아요, 찾다 becomes 찾아요, 얇다 becomes 얇아요. Nothing else moves. The past puts ㅆ under the ending and adds 어요: 앉았어요. English speakers tend to repeat the 아 and write 앉았아요 — but after ㅆ the ending is always 어요, whatever came before. The consonant at the end of the stem moves over to the ending when you speak: 앉아요 is said [안자요], and the spelling keeps the stem so that you can still see which verb it is.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
앉다	앉아요	앉았어요	to sit (down)	1
버스에서 창가 자리에 앉았어요.I sat in a window seat on the bus.
찾다	찾아요	찾았어요	to look for, to find	1
열쇠를 찾았어요? 아니요, 아직 못 찾았어요.Did you find the keys? No, I haven’t found them yet. Both "look for" and "find"; the context decides. Also "to withdraw" money: 돈을 찾다.
많다	많아요	많았어요	to be many, to be a lot	1
오늘은 숙제가 정말 많아요.I have a lot of homework today. The ㅎ under 많 is silent: 많아요 is said [마나요].
작다	작아요	작았어요	to be small	1
이 신발은 저한테 조금 작아요.These shoes are a little small for me.
괜찮다	괜찮아요	괜찮았어요	to be all right, to be fine	1
조금 늦어도 괜찮아요. 천천히 오세요.It’s fine if you’re a little late. Take your time. Also the polite way to turn something down: 괜찮아요, "I’m fine, thank you".
같다	같아요	같았어요	to be the same	1
제 생일하고 동생 생일이 같아요.My birthday and my younger sibling’s birthday are on the same day.
짧다	짧아요	짧았어요	to be short (in length or time)	1
이번 방학은 너무 짧았어요.This holiday was far too short. Not for people: somebody short is 키가 작다.
높다	높아요	높았어요	to be high, to be tall (buildings, mountains)	2
이 산은 생각보다 높아요.This mountain is higher than I expected. A tall person is 키가 크다, not 높다.
닦다	닦아요	닦았어요	to wipe, to polish; to brush (teeth)	1
밥을 먹고 나서 이를 닦아요.I brush my teeth after eating.
막다	막아요	막았어요	to block, to stop	3
사고 때문에 경찰이 길을 막았어요.The police closed the road because of an accident.
맑다	맑아요	맑았어요	to be clear, to be fine (sky, water)	2
어제는 비가 왔는데 오늘은 하늘이 맑아요.It rained yesterday, but today the sky is clear.
얇다	얇아요	얇았어요	to be thin (things)	2
이 옷은 얇아서 겨울에는 못 입어요.This top is thin, so I can’t wear it in winter. One of the few stems in ㅑ, which takes 아요 like ㅏ. A thin person is 마르다 or 날씬하다.
감다	감아요	감았어요	to close (the eyes); to wash (the hair)	2
저는 보통 아침에 머리를 감아요.I usually wash my hair in the morning. Hair is washed with 감다, hands and face with 씻다.
남다	남아요	남았어요	to be left over, to remain	2
음식이 많이 남았어요. 싸 갈까요?There’s a lot of food left. Shall we take it home?
담다	담아요	담았어요	to put into (a container)	3
남은 반찬을 통에 담았어요.I put the leftover side dishes into a container.
참다	참아요	참았어요	to hold back, to put up with	2
너무 웃겨서 웃음을 참을 수가 없었어요.It was so funny that I couldn’t keep from laughing.
밝다	밝아요	밝았어요	to be bright	2
이 방은 창문이 커서 아주 밝아요.This room has big windows, so it is very bright.
갚다	갚아요	갚았어요	to pay back	3
지난달에 빌린 돈을 오늘 다 갚았어요.Today I paid back all the money I borrowed last month.
깎다	깎아요	깎았어요	to cut (hair, grass); to peel; to bring down (a price)	2
시장에서 사과 값을 조금 깎았어요.At the market I got the price of the apples down a little.
낮다	낮아요	낮았어요	to be low	2
이 의자는 책상에 비해 너무 낮아요.This chair is too low for the desk.
맞다	맞아요	맞았어요	to be right, to be correct; to fit	1
네, 맞아요. 제가 어제 전화했어요.Yes, that’s right. I was the one who called yesterday.
꽂다	꽂아요	꽂았어요	to put in, to plug in	3
충전기를 꽂았는데 전화기가 안 켜져요.I plugged in the charger, but the phone won’t turn on.
볶다	볶아요	볶았어요	to stir-fry, to roast (beans, nuts)	3
양파와 고기를 같이 볶아요.Fry the onion and the meat together.
녹다	녹아요	녹았어요	to melt	3
날씨가 따뜻해서 눈이 다 녹았어요.It’s warm, so the snow has all melted.
쫓다	쫓아요	쫓았어요	to chase	4
고양이가 마당에서 새를 쫓았어요.The cat chased a bird round the yard.
얕다	얕아요	얕았어요	to be shallow	3
여기는 물이 얕아서 아이들이 놀기 좋아요.The water is shallow here, so it’s a good place for children to play.
낡다	낡아요	낡았어요	to be old, to be worn (things)	3
이 가방은 낡았지만 아직 쓸 만해요.This bag is worn, but it is still usable. For things only; an old person is 늙다. The state is usually said in the past: 낡았어요, "it has got old".

Regular, with 어요

27 verbs

Every vowel that is not ㅏ or ㅗ — ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ and the rest — takes 어요: 먹다 becomes 먹어요, 읽다 becomes 읽어요. Only the last syllable of the stem counts. 맛있다 has a ㅏ in its first syllable and still takes 어요, because its last syllable is 있. Two consonants under one syllable both stay in writing and split in speech: 읽어요 is said [일거요], 없어요 [업써요]. Two of the commonest words in the language are in this family, 있다 and 없다: "there is" and "there is not", and also "to have" and "not to have" — Korean says that something exists rather than that somebody owns it.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
먹다	먹어요	먹었어요	to eat	1
점심에 김밥을 먹었어요.I had gimbap for lunch.
읽다	읽어요	읽었어요	to read	1
저는 자기 전에 책을 읽어요.I read before I go to sleep. The dictionary form is said [익따], the present [일거요]: the second consonant comes out only before a vowel.
있다	있어요	있었어요	there is; to have; to be (somewhere)	1
집 근처에 큰 공원이 있어요.There is a big park near my house. For a person you respect, "to be somewhere" is 계시다: 선생님이 교실에 계세요.
없다	없어요	없었어요	there is not; not to have	1
죄송하지만 오늘은 시간이 없어요.Sorry, I don’t have time today.
재미있다	재미있어요	재미있었어요	to be fun, to be interesting	1
어제 본 영화가 정말 재미있었어요.The film I saw yesterday was really good fun.
맛있다	맛있어요	맛있었어요	to be tasty, to be delicious	1
이 집 비빔밥이 정말 맛있어요.The bibimbap here is really good.
넓다	넓어요	넓었어요	to be wide, to be spacious	2
새로 이사한 집은 거실이 넓어요.The place we’ve just moved into has a spacious living room.
늦다	늦어요	늦었어요	to be late	1
길이 막혀서 회의에 늦었어요.The traffic was bad, so I was late for the meeting.
젊다	젊어요	젊었어요	to be young	2
그 배우는 나이보다 훨씬 젊어 보여요.That actor looks much younger than he is.
적다	적어요	적었어요	to be few, to be little; to write down	2
이 식당은 손님이 적어서 조용해요.This restaurant doesn’t get many customers, so it is quiet. Two words with one spelling and one conjugation: "to be few" and "to write down" (이름을 적어 주세요).
신다	신어요	신었어요	to put on, to wear (shoes, socks)	2
밖에 비가 와서 장화를 신었어요.It was raining outside, so I put my wellies on. Korean has a verb for each part of the body: 입다 for clothes, 신다 for the feet, 쓰다 for hats and glasses.
싫다	싫어요	싫었어요	to be disliked; not to want	1
저는 추운 날씨가 싫어요.I don’t like cold weather. An adjective: the thing disliked is the subject, with 이/가. The verb "to dislike", with 을/를, is 싫어하다.
숨다	숨어요	숨었어요	to hide (oneself)	3
아이가 커튼 뒤에 숨었어요.The child hid behind the curtain.
끊다	끊어요	끊었어요	to cut off; to give up; to hang up	2
아버지는 작년에 담배를 끊으셨어요.My father gave up smoking last year.
깊다	깊어요	깊었어요	to be deep	2
이 강은 생각보다 깊으니까 조심하세요.This river is deeper than it looks, so be careful.
붙다	붙어요	붙었어요	to stick; to pass (an exam)	3
동생이 시험에 붙었어요!My younger brother has passed his exam!
굶다	굶어요	굶었어요	to go without food, to skip (a meal)	3
바빠서 아침을 굶었어요.I was so busy that I skipped breakfast.
찍다	찍어요	찍었어요	to take (a photo); to stamp	1
여기서 사진 좀 찍어 주세요.Could you take a photo here, please?
죽다	죽어요	죽었어요	to die	2
물을 안 줘서 화분의 꽃이 죽었어요.I didn’t water it, so the flower in the pot died.
섞다	섞어요	섞었어요	to mix	3
밥에 나물과 고추장을 넣고 잘 섞어요.Add the vegetables and the chilli paste to the rice and mix well.
묶다	묶어요	묶었어요	to tie, to tie up	3
운동하기 전에 머리를 묶었어요.I tied my hair back before exercising.
심다	심어요	심었어요	to plant	3
봄에 마당에 나무를 심었어요.In spring we planted a tree in the garden.
넘다	넘어요	넘었어요	to go over, to be past	3
벌써 밤 열두 시가 넘었어요.It is already past midnight.
덮다	덮어요	덮었어요	to cover	3
추우면 이 담요를 덮으세요.If you’re cold, put this blanket over you.
끓다	끓어요	끓었어요	to boil (of a liquid)	3
물이 끓으면 라면을 넣으세요.When the water boils, put the noodles in. The ㅎ is silent before a vowel: 끓어요 is said [끄러요]. To boil something is 끓이다.
늙다	늙어요	늙었어요	to grow old	4
사람은 누구나 늙어요.Everyone grows old.
얹다	얹어요	얹었어요	to put on top of	4
밥 위에 달걀을 하나 얹었어요.I put an egg on top of the rice.

Vowel stems that contract

61 verbs

When the stem ends in a vowel, that vowel meets the 아 or 어 of the ending, and Korean runs the two together — in writing as well as in speech. Two of the same vowel become one: 가다 becomes 가요, never 가아요; 서다 becomes 서요; and a stem in ㅐ, ㅔ or ㅕ simply adds 요: 보내요, 켜요. Two different vowels merge into a diphthong: ㅗ and 아 into ㅘ (오다, 와요), ㅜ and 어 into ㅝ (배우다, 배워요), ㅣ and 어 into ㅕ (마시다, 마셔요), ㅚ and 어 into ㅙ (되다, 돼요). ㅟ is the one vowel that does not merge: 쉬다 becomes 쉬어요. These verbs are entirely regular; they only look changed because Hangul spells what is said. The past puts ㅆ under the merged syllable: 갔어요, 왔어요, 마셨어요, 됐어요. 돼 against 되 is the spelling mistake Koreans themselves make most often; the test is whether 해 would fit in the same place (then 돼) or 하 (then 되).

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
가다	가요	갔어요	to go	1
주말에 친구하고 바다에 갔어요.At the weekend I went to the seaside with a friend.
오다	와요	왔어요	to come	1
친구가 어제 한국에 왔어요.My friend came to Korea yesterday. Also used for rain and snow: 비가 와요, "it is raining".
보다	봐요	봤어요	to see, to look at, to watch	1
저녁에 가족하고 드라마를 봐요.In the evening I watch a drama with my family. The uncontracted 보아요 exists in careful writing; speech always contracts.
자다	자요	잤어요	to sleep	1
어젯밤에 열 시간이나 잤어요.Last night I slept for a full ten hours.
사다	사요	샀어요	to buy	1
시장에서 과일을 샀어요.I bought some fruit at the market.
타다	타요	탔어요	to ride, to take (a vehicle)	1
저는 매일 지하철을 타요.I take the underground every day. The vehicle takes 을/를: 버스를 타요, "I take the bus".
만나다	만나요	만났어요	to meet	1
어제 오랜만에 친구를 만났어요.Yesterday I met a friend I hadn’t seen for a long time. The person met takes 을/를: 친구를 만나요. With 하고 it is two people meeting up: 친구하고 만나요.
일어나다	일어나요	일어났어요	to get up, to wake up	1
저는 보통 일곱 시에 일어나요.I usually get up at seven.
마시다	마셔요	마셨어요	to drink	1
아침마다 커피를 한 잔 마셔요.I drink a cup of coffee every morning.
배우다	배워요	배웠어요	to learn	1
저는 요즘 저녁에 한국어를 배워요.I’m learning Korean in the evenings at the moment.
주다	줘요	줬어요	to give	1
동생에게 생일 선물을 줬어요.I gave my younger brother a birthday present. Giving to somebody you respect is 드리다: 어머니께 선물을 드렸어요.
되다	돼요	됐어요	to become; to be all right	2
형은 작년에 의사가 됐어요.My older brother became a doctor last year. What one becomes takes 이/가: 의사가 되다.
기다리다	기다려요	기다렸어요	to wait (for)	1
버스를 이십 분 동안 기다렸어요.I waited twenty minutes for the bus.
가르치다	가르쳐요	가르쳤어요	to teach	1
제 언니는 고등학교에서 영어를 가르쳐요.My older sister teaches English at a secondary school.
보내다	보내요	보냈어요	to send; to spend (time)	1
어머니께 문자를 보냈어요.I sent my mother a text.
지내다	지내요	지냈어요	to get on, to spend one’s days	2
요즘 어떻게 지내요?How are you getting on these days?
서다	서요	섰어요	to stand; to stop	2
버스가 정류장 앞에 섰어요.The bus pulled up at the stop.
켜다	켜요	켰어요	to switch on	2
방이 어두워서 불을 켰어요.The room was dark, so I switched the light on.
펴다	펴요	폈어요	to open (a book), to unfold, to spread out	3
교과서 삼십 쪽을 펴세요.Open your textbooks at page thirty.
건너다	건너요	건넜어요	to cross	2
신호가 바뀌면 길을 건너요.We cross the road when the lights change.
비싸다	비싸요	비쌌어요	to be expensive	1
이 가방은 좀 비싸요.This bag is a bit expensive.
싸다	싸요	쌌어요	to be cheap; to pack, to wrap	1
이 시장은 과일이 싸요.Fruit is cheap at this market.
짜다	짜요	짰어요	to be salty	2
국이 조금 짜요. 물을 더 넣을까요?The soup is a bit salty. Shall I add more water?
끝나다	끝나요	끝났어요	to end, to be over	1
수업이 몇 시에 끝나요?What time does the class finish?
다니다	다녀요	다녔어요	to attend, to go (regularly)	1
저는 회사에 다녀요.I work for a company. For going somewhere regularly — school, work, a gym: 학교에 다녀요 is "I go to school", i.e. I am a pupil.
내리다	내려요	내렸어요	to get off; to come down (rain, snow)	1
다음 역에서 내려요.I’m getting off at the next station.
걸리다	걸려요	걸렸어요	to take (time); to catch (a cold)	2
집에서 회사까지 한 시간 걸려요.It takes an hour from my house to the office.
버리다	버려요	버렸어요	to throw away	2
쓰레기는 여기에 버리세요.Please put your rubbish here.
고치다	고쳐요	고쳤어요	to fix, to repair; to correct	2
아버지가 고장 난 의자를 고치셨어요.My father mended the broken chair.
던지다	던져요	던졌어요	to throw	3
아이가 강아지에게 공을 던졌어요.The child threw the ball to the puppy.
이기다	이겨요	이겼어요	to win, to beat	2
어제 축구 경기에서 우리 팀이 이겼어요.Our team won the football match yesterday.
빌리다	빌려요	빌렸어요	to borrow	2
도서관에서 책을 세 권 빌렸어요.I borrowed three books from the library. "To lend" is the same verb with 주다: 빌려 주다.
바꾸다	바꿔요	바꿨어요	to change, to exchange	2
사이즈가 안 맞아서 다른 걸로 바꿨어요.It was the wrong size, so I exchanged it for another one.
나누다	나눠요	나눴어요	to divide, to share	2
케이크를 여섯 조각으로 나눴어요.I cut the cake into six pieces.
외우다	외워요	외웠어요	to memorise, to learn by heart	2
매일 단어를 스무 개씩 외워요.I learn twenty words by heart every day.
춤추다	춤춰요	춤췄어요	to dance	2
파티에서 다 같이 춤췄어요.Everyone danced together at the party.
키우다	키워요	키웠어요	to bring up, to keep (a pet), to grow	2
저는 고양이 두 마리를 키워요.I have two cats.
싸우다	싸워요	싸웠어요	to fight, to argue	2
어릴 때는 동생하고 자주 싸웠어요.When we were little I often fought with my younger brother.
바뀌다	바뀌어요	바뀌었어요	to change, to be changed	3
회의 시간이 세 시로 바뀌었어요.The meeting has been moved to three o’clock. ㅟ does not merge with 어, so the full ending is written.
쉬다	쉬어요	쉬었어요	to rest; to have a day off	1
주말에는 집에서 쉬어요.At weekends I relax at home.
뛰다	뛰어요	뛰었어요	to run, to jump	2
늦어서 역까지 뛰었어요.I was late, so I ran to the station.
사귀다	사귀어요	사귀었어요	to make (friends); to go out with	3
한국에 와서 좋은 친구들을 많이 사귀었어요.Since coming to Korea I have made a lot of good friends. Often misspelt 사겨요; ㅟ never merges.
느끼다	느껴요	느꼈어요	to feel	3
그 이야기를 듣고 많은 것을 느꼈어요.That story gave me a lot to think about.
생기다	생겨요	생겼어요	to come up, to appear; to get	2
갑자기 일이 생겨서 못 가요.Something has come up, so I can’t go.
모이다	모여요	모였어요	to gather, to get together	3
명절에는 가족들이 할머니 댁에 모여요.At the holidays the family gets together at Grandma’s.
보이다	보여요	보였어요	to be visible, can be seen	2
여기서 바다가 보여요.You can see the sea from here.
들리다	들려요	들렸어요	to be heard, can be heard	3
옆집에서 피아노 소리가 들려요.I can hear a piano next door.
놀라다	놀라요	놀랐어요	to be surprised, to be startled	2
갑자기 큰 소리가 나서 깜짝 놀랐어요.There was a sudden loud noise and I jumped. The stem is 놀라, a vowel stem, so 놀라요; it has nothing to do with the 르 verbs.
바라다	바라요	바랐어요	to hope, to wish	3
모든 일이 잘되기를 바라요.I hope everything goes well. Standard is 바라요. The 바래요 heard everywhere is not standard in writing; 바래다 is a different verb, "to fade".
매다	매요	맸어요	to tie, to fasten (a belt, a tie)	3
출발하기 전에 안전벨트를 매세요.Fasten your seatbelt before we set off.
세다	세요	셌어요	to be strong; to count	3
바람이 너무 세서 우산이 뒤집혔어요.The wind was so strong that my umbrella blew inside out.
지다	져요	졌어요	to lose (a game); to set (the sun)	2
아쉽게도 결승에서 졌어요.Sadly, we lost in the final. 져요 is said like [저요]: after ㅈ, ㅉ and ㅊ the y of ㅕ is not heard.
마치다	마쳐요	마쳤어요	to finish (something)	3
오늘 할 일을 다 마쳤어요.I’ve finished everything I had to do today.
다치다	다쳐요	다쳤어요	to get hurt, to injure	2
축구를 하다가 다리를 다쳤어요.I hurt my leg playing football.
내다	내요	냈어요	to pay; to hand in; to put out	2
어제 숙제를 냈어요.I handed in my homework yesterday.
피우다	피워요	피웠어요	to smoke	3
여기서 담배를 피우시면 안 돼요.You can’t smoke here.
깨다	깨요	깼어요	to wake up; to break	3
천둥 소리에 잠이 깼어요.The thunder woke me up.
쏘다	쏴요	쐈어요	to shoot; to treat somebody (informal)	4
오늘 저녁은 제가 쏠게요.Dinner’s on me tonight.
끼다	껴요	꼈어요	to put on (gloves, a ring); to get stuck	3
추워서 장갑을 꼈어요.It was cold, so I put my gloves on.
견디다	견뎌요	견뎠어요	to endure, to bear	4
그 더위를 어떻게 견뎠는지 모르겠어요.I don’t know how I put up with that heat.
그리다	그려요	그렸어요	to draw, to paint	2
아이가 엄마 얼굴을 그렸어요.The child drew a picture of their mum’s face.

하다 becomes 해요

40 verbs

하다 "to do" has an ending of its own: the polite present is 해요 and the past 했어요. Thousands of verbs and adjectives are a noun with 하다 after it — 공부하다 "to study" is 공부 "study" plus "do", 피곤하다 "to be tired" is 피곤 "tiredness" plus 하다 — and every one of them conjugates like this, which makes it the largest family in the language and the easiest. One thing does differ inside it. With a verb made from a noun, the negative 안 goes between the noun and 하다: 공부 안 해요, "I don’t study". With an adjective it goes in front of the whole word: 안 피곤해요, "I’m not tired".

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
하다	해요	했어요	to do	1
주말에 뭐 했어요?What did you do at the weekend?
공부하다	공부해요	공부했어요	to study	1
저는 매일 도서관에서 공부해요.I study in the library every day. The negative splits the word: 공부 안 해요.
좋아하다	좋아해요	좋아했어요	to like	1
저는 매운 음식을 좋아해요.I like spicy food. A verb, with 을/를. The adjective 좋다 says that something is good, with 이/가.
일하다	일해요	일했어요	to work	1
언니는 병원에서 일해요.My older sister works at a hospital.
말하다	말해요	말했어요	to speak, to say	1
천천히 말해 주세요.Please speak slowly.
운동하다	운동해요	운동했어요	to exercise, to work out	1
아침마다 공원에서 운동해요.I exercise in the park every morning.
사랑하다	사랑해요	사랑했어요	to love	1
우리 가족을 정말 사랑해요.I really love my family.
생각하다	생각해요	생각했어요	to think	2
저도 그렇게 생각해요.I think so too.
싫어하다	싫어해요	싫어했어요	to dislike, to hate	1
동생은 채소를 싫어해요.My younger brother hates vegetables.
피곤하다	피곤해요	피곤했어요	to be tired	1
어제 늦게 자서 너무 피곤해요.I went to bed late last night, so I’m really tired.
깨끗하다	깨끗해요	깨끗했어요	to be clean	1
호텔 방이 아주 깨끗했어요.The hotel room was very clean.
조용하다	조용해요	조용했어요	to be quiet	1
도서관 안은 아주 조용해요.It is very quiet inside the library.
따뜻하다	따뜻해요	따뜻했어요	to be warm	1
오늘은 봄처럼 따뜻해요.It is as warm as spring today.
시원하다	시원해요	시원했어요	to be cool, to be refreshing	2
강가에 오니까 바람이 시원해요.Now that we’re down by the river, the breeze is lovely and cool. Also said of hot soup that clears the head — the meaning is "refreshing", not "cold".
필요하다	필요해요	필요했어요	to be needed	2
이 서류에는 사진이 한 장 필요해요.This form needs one photo. An adjective: what is needed is the subject, with 이/가.
미안하다	미안해요	미안했어요	to be sorry	1
늦어서 미안해요.Sorry I’m late.
결혼하다	결혼해요	결혼했어요	to get married	2
사촌 언니가 다음 달에 결혼해요.My cousin is getting married next month. Married to somebody is 와/과 결혼하다, never with 을/를.
전화하다	전화해요	전화했어요	to phone, to call	1
집에 도착하면 전화해 주세요.Please give me a ring when you get home.
청소하다	청소해요	청소했어요	to clean (a room, a house)	1
토요일 아침에 방을 청소했어요.I cleaned my room on Saturday morning.
요리하다	요리해요	요리했어요	to cook	2
저는 주말에 집에서 요리해요.At weekends I cook at home.
준비하다	준비해요	준비했어요	to prepare, to get ready	2
발표를 열심히 준비했어요.I prepared hard for my presentation.
이야기하다	이야기해요	이야기했어요	to talk, to tell	2
어제 친구하고 늦게까지 이야기했어요.Yesterday I talked with a friend until late.
도착하다	도착해요	도착했어요	to arrive	2
기차가 몇 시에 도착해요?What time does the train get in?
출발하다	출발해요	출발했어요	to depart, to set off	2
버스는 아홉 시에 출발해요.The bus leaves at nine.
시작하다	시작해요	시작했어요	to start, to begin	2
다음 주부터 새 일을 시작해요.I start a new job next week.
걱정하다	걱정해요	걱정했어요	to worry	2
연락이 없어서 많이 걱정했어요.I didn’t hear from you, so I was really worried.
대답하다	대답해요	대답했어요	to answer, to reply	2
선생님 질문에 바로 대답했어요.I answered the teacher’s question straight away.
연습하다	연습해요	연습했어요	to practise	2
매일 한 시간씩 피아노를 연습해요.I practise the piano for an hour every day.
비슷하다	비슷해요	비슷했어요	to be similar	2
두 사람은 목소리가 비슷해요.The two of them have similar voices.
유명하다	유명해요	유명했어요	to be famous	2
이 식당은 냉면으로 유명해요.This restaurant is famous for its cold noodles.
친절하다	친절해요	친절했어요	to be kind, to be helpful	2
가게 직원이 아주 친절했어요.The shop assistant was very helpful.
중요하다	중요해요	중요했어요	to be important	2
건강이 제일 중요해요.Health matters most.
행복하다	행복해요	행복했어요	to be happy	2
가족과 함께 있을 때 제일 행복해요.I’m happiest when I’m with my family.
심심하다	심심해요	심심했어요	to be bored	2
비가 와서 하루 종일 심심했어요.It rained, so I was bored all day.
편하다	편해요	편했어요	to be comfortable, to be convenient	2
이 신발은 가볍고 편해요.These shoes are light and comfortable.
노력하다	노력해요	노력했어요	to make an effort, to try hard	3
실수하지 않으려고 노력했어요.I tried hard not to make mistakes.
설명하다	설명해요	설명했어요	to explain	3
죄송하지만 다시 설명해 주시겠어요?Sorry, could you explain that again?
이해하다	이해해요	이해했어요	to understand	3
이제 무슨 뜻인지 이해했어요.Now I understand what it means.
부족하다	부족해요	부족했어요	to be lacking, to be short of	3
요즘 잠이 부족해요.I haven’t been getting enough sleep lately.
솔직하다	솔직해요	솔직했어요	to be honest, to be frank	3
그 사람은 항상 솔직해요.He always says what he thinks.

ㅡ drops

17 verbs

A stem that ends in the vowel ㅡ loses it in front of 아 or 어: 쓰다 becomes 써요, 바쁘다 becomes 바빠요. With ㅡ gone there is no last vowel left to choose the ending, so the syllable before decides instead: 바쁘다 has ㅏ in front, so 바빠요; 예쁘다 has ㅖ, so 예뻐요. A stem of one syllable has nothing in front of it and takes 어: 크다, 커요; 끄다, 꺼요. Grammar books call this an irregular family, but every stem ending in ㅡ does it, so it works like a rule. Two mistakes are common even among Koreans: 잠그다 "to lock" is 잠가요, and 담그다 "to soak" is 담가요 — not 잠궈요 and 담궈요.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
쓰다	써요	썼어요	to write; to use; to put on (a hat, glasses)	1
친구에게 편지를 썼어요.I wrote a letter to a friend. Four words with one spelling — write, use, put on, be bitter — and one conjugation for all of them.
크다	커요	컸어요	to be big; to be tall	1
제 동생은 저보다 키가 커요.My younger brother is taller than me.
끄다	꺼요	껐어요	to switch off, to put out	2
나갈 때 불을 꺼 주세요.Please switch the light off when you go out.
뜨다	떠요	떴어요	to rise (the sun); to open (the eyes); to float	3
해가 뜨기 전에 출발했어요.We set off before the sun came up.
바쁘다	바빠요	바빴어요	to be busy	1
이번 주는 일이 많아서 바빠요.I have a lot of work this week, so I’m busy.
아프다	아파요	아팠어요	to hurt; to be ill	1
어제부터 머리가 아파요.I’ve had a headache since yesterday.
예쁘다	예뻐요	예뻤어요	to be pretty	1
이 꽃이 정말 예뻐요.This flower is really pretty.
슬프다	슬퍼요	슬펐어요	to be sad	2
영화 끝부분이 너무 슬펐어요.The end of the film was terribly sad.
기쁘다	기뻐요	기뻤어요	to be glad, to be happy	2
다시 만나서 정말 기뻐요.I’m so glad to see you again.
나쁘다	나빠요	나빴어요	to be bad	1
오늘은 공기가 나빠요.The air is bad today.
배고프다	배고파요	배고팠어요	to be hungry	1
아침을 안 먹어서 배고파요.I skipped breakfast, so I’m hungry. Also written as two words with a particle: 배가 고파요, "my stomach is hungry".
모으다	모아요	모았어요	to collect, to save up	2
여행 가려고 돈을 모아요.I’m saving up to go travelling.
잠그다	잠가요	잠갔어요	to lock	3
나가기 전에 문을 잠갔어요.I locked the door before I went out. Very often said and written 잠궈요, which is not standard.
담그다	담가요	담갔어요	to soak; to make (kimchi, pickles)	4
겨울이 오기 전에 김치를 담가요.We make kimchi before winter comes. Like 잠그다: 담가요, not 담궈요.
트다	터요	텄어요	to chap, to crack; to sprout	4
날이 추워서 입술이 텄어요.It’s so cold that my lips are chapped.
가쁘다	가빠요	가빴어요	to be out of breath	4
계단을 빨리 올라갔더니 숨이 가빠요.I went up the stairs too fast, and now I’m out of breath.
애쓰다	애써요	애썼어요	to try hard, to take trouble	4
모두 애써 줘서 고마워요.Thank you all for your hard work.

Stems in ㄹ

29 verbs

For the two forms on this page a stem in ㄹ is completely regular: 살다 becomes 살아요, 만들다 becomes 만들어요. They have a family of their own because of what they do in front of other endings. A ㄹ stem never takes the extra 으 that other consonant stems take — 살면, not 살으면 — and its ㄹ disappears in front of ㄴ, ㅂ and ㅅ. So the honorific of 살다 is 사세요, the formal present 삽니다, and "the person who lives here" is 여기 사는 사람. That is why 아세요? means "do you know?" and 파는 곳 "a place that sells": the ㄹ of 알다 and 팔다 is still there in the meaning and gone from the page.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
살다	살아요	살았어요	to live	1
저는 서울에 살아요.I live in Seoul. Honorific 사세요, formal 삽니다: the ㄹ goes before ㅅ and ㅂ.
알다	알아요	알았어요	to know	1
그 사람 전화번호 알아요?Do you know his phone number? 알았어요 is also the everyday "OK, got it". The honorific is 아세요.
만들다	만들어요	만들었어요	to make	1
어머니하고 같이 만두를 만들었어요.I made dumplings with my mother.
놀다	놀아요	놀았어요	to play, to hang out	1
주말에 친구들하고 놀았어요.At the weekend I hung out with friends. Not for sports or instruments, which have their own verbs; 놀다 is spending free time.
팔다	팔아요	팔았어요	to sell	1
저 가게에서 우산을 팔아요.That shop sells umbrellas.
열다	열어요	열었어요	to open	1
더워서 창문을 열었어요.It was hot, so I opened the window.
울다	울어요	울었어요	to cry	2
아기가 밤새 울었어요.The baby cried all night.
길다	길어요	길었어요	to be long	2
줄이 너무 길어요.The queue is far too long.
멀다	멀어요	멀었어요	to be far	1
여기서 역까지 멀어요?Is it far from here to the station?
걸다	걸어요	걸었어요	to hang; to make (a phone call)	2
친구에게 전화를 걸었어요.I rang a friend. 걸어요 is also the present of 걷다, "to walk".
들다	들어요	들었어요	to lift, to carry, to hold; to cost	2
이 가방 좀 들어 주세요.Could you hold this bag for me? 들어요 is also the present of 듣다, "to listen".
불다	불어요	불었어요	to blow	2
밖에 바람이 많이 불어요.It’s very windy outside.
밀다	밀어요	밀었어요	to push	2
이 문은 밀어서 여세요.Push this door to open it.
달다	달아요	달았어요	to be sweet	2
이 케이크는 너무 달아요.This cake is too sweet.
졸다	졸아요	졸았어요	to doze, to nod off	3
수업 시간에 졸았어요.I nodded off in class.
떨다	떨어요	떨었어요	to shake, to tremble, to shiver	3
발표할 때 너무 떨었어요.I was shaking with nerves during my presentation.
풀다	풀어요	풀었어요	to untie; to solve	2
어려운 문제를 드디어 풀었어요.I finally solved the difficult problem.
벌다	벌어요	벌었어요	to earn	2
아르바이트로 용돈을 벌어요.I earn my spending money with a part-time job.
돌다	돌아요	돌았어요	to turn, to go round	3
다음 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 도세요.Turn right at the next crossroads.
힘들다	힘들어요	힘들었어요	to be hard, to be tiring	1
이사하는 날은 정말 힘들었어요.Moving day was really exhausting.
얼다	얼어요	얼었어요	to freeze	3
추워서 호수가 꽁꽁 얼었어요.It was so cold that the lake froze solid.
빌다	빌어요	빌었어요	to wish, to pray	3
생일 케이크 앞에서 소원을 빌었어요.I made a wish in front of my birthday cake.
끌다	끌어요	끌었어요	to pull, to drag	3
무거운 상자를 끌어서 옮겼어요.I dragged the heavy box across.
날다	날아요	날았어요	to fly	3
겨울이 오니까 새들이 남쪽으로 날아갔어요.Winter is coming, so the birds have flown south.
썰다	썰어요	썰었어요	to slice, to cut up	3
양파를 얇게 썰어요.Slice the onion thinly.
물다	물어요	물었어요	to bite	3
모기가 팔을 물었어요.A mosquito bit me on the arm. 물어요 is also the present of 묻다, "to ask".
갈다	갈아요	갈았어요	to change, to replace; to grind	3
전구가 나가서 새것으로 갈았어요.The bulb had gone, so I put in a new one.
둥글다	둥글어요	둥글었어요	to be round	3
이 접시는 둥글고 커요.This plate is round and large.
가늘다	가늘어요	가늘었어요	to be thin, to be fine (thread, hair)	4
이 실은 너무 가늘어서 잘 끊어져요.This thread is so fine that it snaps easily.

ㅂ becomes 우

39 verbs

Most adjectives whose stem ends in ㅂ turn that ㅂ into 우 in front of a vowel, and 우 plus 어 contracts to 워: 춥다 becomes 추워요, 어렵다 becomes 어려워요. It is always 워, even after ㅏ or ㅗ — 가깝다, 가까워요; 고맙다, 고마워요 — with two exceptions, 돕다 "to help" and 곱다 "to be fine", which take 와: 도와요, 고와요. In front of an ending that starts with 으 the same 우 appears and the 으 goes: 추운 날씨 "cold weather", 어려우면 "if it is difficult". In front of a consonant the ㅂ stays: 춥고, 춥지만. Every adjective ending in -롭다, -답다 or -스럽다 belongs here. A few action verbs do too — 눕다, 굽다, 줍다 — but most action verbs in ㅂ are regular, and they are listed with the look-alikes at the bottom.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
춥다	추워요	추웠어요	to be cold (weather, feeling)	1
오늘 아침은 정말 추워요.It is really cold this morning.
덥다	더워요	더웠어요	to be hot (weather, feeling)	1
어제는 너무 더워서 잠을 못 잤어요.It was so hot yesterday that I couldn’t sleep.
쉽다	쉬워요	쉬웠어요	to be easy	1
오늘 시험은 생각보다 쉬웠어요.Today’s exam was easier than I expected.
어렵다	어려워요	어려웠어요	to be difficult	1
한국어 발음은 좀 어려워요.Korean pronunciation is a bit difficult.
맵다	매워요	매웠어요	to be spicy	1
이 떡볶이는 너무 매워요.This tteokbokki is too spicy.
돕다	도와요	도왔어요	to help	2
주말마다 부모님 가게 일을 도와요.Every weekend I help out in my parents’ shop. One of the two ㅂ verbs that take 와.
가깝다	가까워요	가까웠어요	to be near, to be close	1
우리 집은 지하철역에서 가까워요.My house is close to the underground station.
무겁다	무거워요	무거웠어요	to be heavy	1
이 상자는 너무 무거워요.This box is too heavy.
가볍다	가벼워요	가벼웠어요	to be light (in weight)	2
새로 산 노트북은 아주 가벼워요.The laptop I’ve just bought is very light.
귀엽다	귀여워요	귀여웠어요	to be cute	1
친구네 강아지가 정말 귀여워요.My friend’s puppy is really cute.
아름답다	아름다워요	아름다웠어요	to be beautiful	2
가을 산이 정말 아름다워요.The mountains are really beautiful in autumn.
반갑다	반가워요	반가웠어요	to be glad (to meet somebody)	1
만나서 반가워요.Nice to meet you.
고맙다	고마워요	고마웠어요	to be grateful	1
와 줘서 정말 고마워요.Thank you so much for coming.
즐겁다	즐거워요	즐거웠어요	to be enjoyable, to have fun	2
여행은 정말 즐거웠어요.The trip was really enjoyable.
무섭다	무서워요	무서웠어요	to be scary; to be scared	2
저는 높은 곳이 무서워요.I’m scared of heights.
시끄럽다	시끄러워요	시끄러웠어요	to be noisy	2
옆방이 너무 시끄러워서 잠을 못 자요.The room next door is so noisy that I can’t sleep.
부럽다	부러워요	부러웠어요	to be envious	2
휴가가 그렇게 길어요? 정말 부러워요.Your holiday is that long? I’m so jealous.
더럽다	더러워요	더러웠어요	to be dirty	2
창문이 많이 더러워요.The windows are very dirty.
뜨겁다	뜨거워요	뜨거웠어요	to be hot (to the touch)	2
국이 뜨거우니까 조심하세요.The soup is hot, so be careful. Hot weather is 덥다; hot food and water are 뜨겁다.
차갑다	차가워요	차가웠어요	to be cold (to the touch)	2
손이 왜 이렇게 차가워요?Why are your hands so cold?
아깝다	아까워요	아까웠어요	to be a waste, to be a pity	3
음식을 버리기 아까워요.It’s a shame to throw food away.
부끄럽다	부끄러워요	부끄러웠어요	to be embarrassed, to be shy	3
사람들 앞에서 노래하는 게 부끄러워요.I get embarrassed singing in front of people.
눕다	누워요	누웠어요	to lie down	2
피곤해서 소파에 잠깐 누웠어요.I was tired, so I lay down on the sofa for a bit. An action verb in this family of adjectives.
굽다	구워요	구웠어요	to grill, to roast, to bake	2
마당에서 고기를 구웠어요.We grilled meat in the garden. 굽다 "to bend" is regular: 굽어요.
줍다	주워요	주웠어요	to pick up (from the ground)	3
길에서 지갑을 주웠어요.I found a wallet in the street.
밉다	미워요	미웠어요	to be hateful, to be annoying	3
거짓말한 친구가 너무 미워요.I can’t stand my friend for lying to me.
싱겁다	싱거워요	싱거웠어요	to be bland, to need salt	3
국이 좀 싱거워요. 소금 좀 주세요.The soup needs salt. Could you pass me the salt?
자연스럽다	자연스러워요	자연스러웠어요	to be natural	3
한국어가 아주 자연스러워요.Your Korean sounds very natural.
그립다	그리워요	그리웠어요	to be missed, to long for	3
고향 음식이 그리워요.I miss the food from home.
외롭다	외로워요	외로웠어요	to be lonely	3
처음 혼자 살 때는 외로웠어요.When I first lived on my own, I was lonely.
두껍다	두꺼워요	두꺼웠어요	to be thick	3
이 사전은 너무 두꺼워서 들고 다니기 힘들어요.This dictionary is too thick to carry around.
새롭다	새로워요	새로웠어요	to be new, to feel fresh	3
오랜만에 와 보니 모든 것이 새로워요.Coming back after so long, everything feels new.
부드럽다	부드러워요	부드러웠어요	to be soft, to be smooth	3
이 빵은 아주 부드러워요.This bread is very soft.
어지럽다	어지러워요	어지러웠어요	to be dizzy; to be messy	3
갑자기 일어났더니 어지러워요.I stood up too quickly and now I feel dizzy.
아쉽다	아쉬워요	아쉬웠어요	to be a shame, to be sorry (that something is over)	3
여행이 벌써 끝나서 아쉬워요.It’s a shame the trip is already over.
미끄럽다	미끄러워요	미끄러웠어요	to be slippery	3
눈이 와서 길이 미끄러워요.It has snowed, so the roads are slippery.
날카롭다	날카로워요	날카로웠어요	to be sharp	4
칼이 날카로우니까 조심하세요.The knife is sharp, so be careful.
괴롭다	괴로워요	괴로웠어요	to be painful, to be distressing	4
그 일을 생각하면 아직도 괴로워요.It still hurts when I think about it.
곱다	고와요	고왔어요	to be fine, to be lovely (colour, texture)	4
한복 색깔이 참 고와요.The colours of the hanbok are lovely. The second ㅂ word that takes 와.

ㄷ becomes ㄹ

9 verbs

A small family of verbs turns the ㄷ at the end of the stem into ㄹ in front of a vowel: 듣다 becomes 들어요, 걷다 becomes 걸어요, 묻다 "to ask" becomes 물어요. In front of a consonant the ㄷ stays: 듣고, 걷지만. Small, but 듣다 and 걷다 are needed in the first week, and the change produces forms that collide with other verbs: 들어요 is also "I lift" from 들다, 걸어요 also "I hang" from 걸다, and 물어요 also "it bites" from 물다. The sentence tells them apart. Most verbs in ㄷ are regular — 받다, 닫다, 믿다 — and are listed with the look-alikes.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
듣다	들어요	들었어요	to listen, to hear	1
저는 운전할 때 음악을 들어요.I listen to music when I drive. Also "to take" a class: 수업을 듣다.
걷다	걸어요	걸었어요	to walk	1
날씨가 좋아서 집까지 걸었어요.The weather was nice, so I walked home.
묻다	물어요	물었어요	to ask	2
길을 몰라서 지나가는 사람에게 물었어요.I didn’t know the way, so I asked a passer-by. 묻다 "to bury" is regular: 묻어요.
싣다	실어요	실었어요	to load	3
짐을 차에 다 실었어요.I’ve loaded all the luggage into the car.
깨닫다	깨달아요	깨달았어요	to realise	3
그때 제가 틀렸다는 것을 깨달았어요.That was when I realised I had been wrong.
알아듣다	알아들어요	알아들었어요	to understand (what is said)	3
말이 너무 빨라서 하나도 못 알아들었어요.They spoke so fast that I didn’t understand a word.
엿듣다	엿들어요	엿들었어요	to eavesdrop, to overhear	4
남의 이야기를 엿들으면 안 돼요.You shouldn’t listen in on other people’s conversations.
캐묻다	캐물어요	캐물었어요	to question closely, to pry	4
자꾸 사생활을 캐묻지 마세요.Please stop prying into my private life.
붇다	불어요	불었어요	to swell; to go soggy (noodles)	4
라면이 불어서 맛이 없어요.The noodles have gone soggy and don’t taste of anything. Its present is spelt exactly like 불어요 "it blows" from 불다.

르 becomes ㄹ라 or ㄹ러

23 verbs

Almost every stem ending in 르 loses its ㅡ and doubles its ㄹ: one ㄹ goes under the syllable in front, the other starts the ending. 모르다 becomes 몰라요, 부르다 becomes 불러요. Whether it is 라 or 러 is decided as usual by the vowel in front: 빠르다 has ㅏ, so 빨라요; 흐르다 has ㅡ, so 흘러요. The doubled ㄹ is heard as well as written — a long l, held for a moment, not the single l of English "hollow". 몰라요 said with one l sounds like a different word. A few verbs that end in 르 do not do this: two that add 러, next on the page, and the ones that only drop ㅡ, at the very end.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
모르다	몰라요	몰랐어요	not to know	1
죄송하지만 저도 잘 몰라요.Sorry, I don’t really know either. Korean has a separate verb for "not to know"; 안 알아요 is not said.
부르다	불러요	불렀어요	to call; to sing	1
노래방에서 노래를 불렀어요.We went to a karaoke room and sang.
빠르다	빨라요	빨랐어요	to be fast	1
지하철이 버스보다 빨라요.The underground is faster than the bus.
다르다	달라요	달랐어요	to be different	1
사진하고 실제가 많이 달라요.It looks very different from the photo.
고르다	골라요	골랐어요	to choose, to pick	2
마음에 드는 걸로 하나 고르세요.Pick whichever one you like.
기르다	길러요	길렀어요	to bring up; to grow (hair, a beard)	3
요즘 머리를 기르고 있어요.I’m growing my hair at the moment.
마르다	말라요	말랐어요	to dry; to be thin; to be thirsty	2
목이 말라요. 물 좀 주세요.I’m thirsty. Could I have some water? Thirsty is "the throat is dry": 목이 마르다.
오르다	올라요	올랐어요	to climb; to go up (prices)	3
요즘 채소 값이 많이 올랐어요.Vegetable prices have gone up a lot recently.
흐르다	흘러요	흘렀어요	to flow	3
도시 한가운데로 큰 강이 흘러요.A wide river flows right through the middle of the city.
서두르다	서둘러요	서둘렀어요	to hurry	2
기차를 놓칠까 봐 서둘렀어요.I hurried because I was afraid of missing the train.
누르다	눌러요	눌렀어요	to press, to push (a button)	2
이 버튼을 누르면 문이 열려요.If you press this button, the door opens.
자르다	잘라요	잘랐어요	to cut	2
어제 머리를 짧게 잘랐어요.I had my hair cut short yesterday. Korean says "I cut my hair" even when a hairdresser did it.
바르다	발라요	발랐어요	to spread, to put on (cream, paint)	3
빵에 버터를 발라 먹어요.I have my bread with butter on it.
게으르다	게을러요	게을렀어요	to be lazy	3
저는 아침에는 좀 게을러요.I’m a bit lazy in the mornings.
머무르다	머물러요	머물렀어요	to stay	4
부산에서 일주일 동안 머물렀어요.I stayed in Busan for a week. The short form 머물다 is standard too and gives the same present.
서투르다	서툴러요	서툴렀어요	to be unskilled, to be clumsy	4
아직 운전이 서툴러요.I’m still not very good at driving.
배부르다	배불러요	배불렀어요	to be full (after eating)	1
많이 먹어서 배불러요.I’ve eaten a lot, so I’m full.
지르다	질러요	질렀어요	to shout, to yell (with a noise)	3
깜짝 놀라서 소리를 질렀어요.I got such a fright that I screamed.
구르다	굴러요	굴렀어요	to roll	4
공이 언덕 아래로 굴러갔어요.The ball rolled down the hill.
거르다	걸러요	걸렀어요	to skip (a meal); to filter	4
바빠서 점심을 걸렀어요.I was busy, so I skipped lunch.
올바르다	올발라요	올발랐어요	to be right, to be proper	4
그 결정이 올바랐는지 모르겠어요.I’m not sure that decision was the right one.
가르다	갈라요	갈랐어요	to split, to cut open	4
수박을 반으로 갈랐어요.I cut the watermelon in half.
두르다	둘러요	둘렀어요	to wrap round, to put round	4
목에 목도리를 둘렀어요.I wrapped a scarf round my neck.

Two verbs in 르 that add 러

2 verbs

A tiny family keeps its 르 whole and adds 러: 푸르다 "to be blue, to be green" becomes 푸르러요, 이르다 "to reach" becomes 이르러요. Both belong mostly to written Korean, and both are here to be recognised rather than drilled. The trap is the second one: 이르다 in its other meanings, "to be early" and "to tell on somebody", is an ordinary 르 verb — 일러요 — and the same is true of 누르다: "to press" is 눌러요, while the rare adjective 누르다 "to be yellow" belongs to this family.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
푸르다	푸르러요	푸르렀어요	to be blue, to be green (sky, sea, leaves)	4
비가 그친 뒤라서 하늘이 더욱 푸르러요.Now that the rain has stopped, the sky is an even deeper blue.
이르다	이르러요	이르렀어요	to reach, to arrive at (written)	4
긴 회의 끝에 드디어 결론에 이르렀어요.After a long meeting we finally reached a conclusion. 이르다 "to be early" and "to tell on" are ordinary 르 verbs: 일러요.

ㅅ drops

6 verbs

A handful of verbs lose the ㅅ at the end of the stem in front of a vowel — and then, unlike a real vowel stem, do not contract: 낫다 becomes 나아요, not 나요; 짓다 becomes 지어요, not 져요; 붓다 becomes 부어요. The gap the ㅅ left behind keeps the two vowels apart, and the spelling shows it. In front of a consonant the ㅅ stays: 짓고, 낫지만. Most verbs in ㅅ are regular — 웃다, 씻다, 벗다 — and are listed with the look-alikes.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
낫다	나아요	나았어요	to get better (from an illness); to be better	2
약을 먹고 감기가 다 나았어요.I took some medicine, and my cold is completely better. Three forms that sound alike: 나았어요 "got better", 났어요 "came out" from 나다, 낳았어요 "gave birth" from 낳다.
짓다	지어요	지었어요	to build; to make (a name, rice, a poem)	3
할아버지가 제 이름을 지어 주셨어요.My grandfather chose my name.
붓다	부어요	부었어요	to pour; to swell	3
어제 라면을 먹고 자서 얼굴이 부었어요.I had noodles before bed last night, and now my face is puffy.
젓다	저어요	저었어요	to stir; to row	3
커피에 설탕을 넣고 저었어요.I put sugar in my coffee and stirred it.
긋다	그어요	그었어요	to draw (a line)	3
중요한 문장에 밑줄을 그었어요.I underlined the important sentences.
잇다	이어요	이었어요	to join, to connect	4
끊어진 줄을 하나로 이었어요.I joined the broken string back together. Not to be confused with the copula: 이어요 here is "joins", 이에요 is "it is".

ㅎ drops and the vowel changes

16 verbs

The adjectives of manner in -렇다 and the colour words in -랗다 and -얗다 drop their ㅎ, and the last vowel and the ending fuse into ㅐ: 그렇다 becomes 그래요, 빨갛다 becomes 빨개요, 어떻다 becomes 어때요. After a y-vowel the result is ㅒ or ㅖ: 하얗다, 하얘요; 뿌옇다, 뿌예요. Colour words with ㅓ in them, such as 누렇다 "to be yellowish", fuse into ㅔ instead: 누레요. In front of an ending with 으 both the ㅎ and the 으 disappear: 빨간 사과 "a red apple", 그런 사람 "that kind of person", 어떤 책 "which book" — so this family is where 어떤 and 그런 come from. 좋다 looks exactly like these words and is regular; so are the verbs 놓다, 넣다 and 낳다.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
그렇다	그래요	그랬어요	to be so, to be like that	1
아, 그래요? 몰랐어요.Oh, really? I didn’t know.
어떻다	어때요	어땠어요	to be how, to be like what	1
이 옷 어때요? 잘 어울려요?What do you think of this top? Does it suit me?
이렇다	이래요	이랬어요	to be like this	3
우리 집은 아침마다 이래요. 정신이 하나도 없어요.Our house is like this every morning — total chaos.
저렇다	저래요	저랬어요	to be like that (over there)	3
저 사람은 왜 저래요?What’s the matter with him?
빨갛다	빨개요	빨갰어요	to be red	2
사과가 아주 빨개요.The apples are very red.
파랗다	파래요	파랬어요	to be blue	2
오늘은 하늘이 정말 파래요.The sky is really blue today.
노랗다	노래요	노랬어요	to be yellow	2
가을이 되니까 은행잎이 노래요.Now that it’s autumn, the ginkgo leaves are yellow.
하얗다	하얘요	하얬어요	to be white	2
눈이 와서 온 세상이 하얘요.It has snowed, and everything is white.
까맣다	까매요	까맸어요	to be black, to be dark	2
여름 내내 바다에서 놀아서 얼굴이 까매요.I spent the whole summer at the beach, so my face is very tanned.
동그랗다	동그래요	동그랬어요	to be round	3
아기 눈이 크고 동그래요.The baby’s eyes are big and round.
새빨갛다	새빨개요	새빨갰어요	to be bright red	3
단풍이 새빨개요.The autumn leaves are bright red.
커다랗다	커다래요	커다랬어요	to be huge	3
공원 한가운데에 커다란 나무가 있어요.There is a huge tree in the middle of the park. Mostly met before a noun, where the ㅎ and the 으 both go: 커다란.
조그맣다	조그매요	조그맸어요	to be tiny	3
집 앞에 조그만 가게가 하나 있어요.There is a tiny shop in front of my house. Before a noun it is 조그만, which is why that word looks like an adjective of its own.
기다랗다	기다래요	기다랬어요	to be long, to be lengthy	4
가게 앞에 기다란 줄이 생겼어요.A long queue formed in front of the shop.
새까맣다	새까매요	새까맸어요	to be jet-black	4
불이 다 꺼져서 밖이 새까매요.All the lights have gone out, and it’s pitch-black outside.
뿌옇다	뿌예요	뿌옜어요	to be hazy, to be misty	4
안개가 껴서 창밖이 뿌예요.It’s foggy, so everything outside the window is hazy.

The look-alikes

27 verbs

The trap on this page. A stem ending in ㅂ, ㄷ, ㅅ or ㅎ may be irregular, and nothing in the dictionary form says whether it is — and many of the commonest verbs are perfectly regular: 입다 becomes 입어요, 받다 받아요, 웃다 웃어요, 좋다 좋아요. A rough guide helps. In ㅂ, adjectives are nearly all irregular and action verbs mostly regular (입다, 잡다, 씹다, 접다); 좁다 "to be narrow" and 수줍다 "to be shy" are the adjectives that break the pattern. In ㄷ and ㅅ the regular verbs are the majority. In ㅎ only the adjectives of manner and colour change. Several words are spelt identically and belong to two families: 묻다 "to ask" (물어요) and "to bury" (묻어요), 걷다 "to walk" (걸어요) and "to roll up" (걷어요), 굽다 "to roast" (구워요) and "to bend" (굽어요). The only cure is to learn these as words, and the regular ones are worth knowing first, because you will meet them every day.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
입다	입어요	입었어요	to put on, to wear (clothes)	1
오늘은 추워서 코트를 입었어요.It’s cold today, so I put on a coat.
받다	받아요	받았어요	to receive, to get	1
생일에 친구들한테 선물을 많이 받았어요.I got lots of presents from my friends for my birthday.
닫다	닫아요	닫았어요	to close, to shut	1
추워서 창문을 닫았어요.It was cold, so I shut the window.
웃다	웃어요	웃었어요	to laugh, to smile	1
그 이야기를 듣고 다 같이 웃었어요.We all laughed when we heard that story.
씻다	씻어요	씻었어요	to wash	1
밥 먹기 전에 손을 씻어요.I wash my hands before I eat.
좋다	좋아요	좋았어요	to be good	1
오늘 날씨가 정말 좋아요.The weather is really lovely today. The ㅎ is silent: 좋아요 is said [조아요].
좁다	좁아요	좁았어요	to be narrow, to be cramped	2
이 길은 너무 좁아서 차가 못 지나가요.This road is too narrow for cars to get through. An adjective in ㅂ that is regular — the exception to the guide.
잡다	잡아요	잡았어요	to catch, to hold, to grab	2
아이가 엄마 손을 꼭 잡았어요.The child held their mum’s hand tight.
믿다	믿어요	믿었어요	to believe, to trust	2
저는 그 사람 말을 믿어요.I believe what he says.
벗다	벗어요	벗었어요	to take off (clothes, shoes)	2
집에 들어갈 때는 신발을 벗어요.You take your shoes off when you go into a house.
놓다	놓아요	놓았어요	to put, to place	2
열쇠를 책상 위에 놓았어요.I put the keys on the desk. In speech usually contracted, and the contraction is standard as well: 놔요, 놨어요.
넣다	넣어요	넣었어요	to put in	2
가방에 책을 넣었어요.I put the book in my bag.
씹다	씹어요	씹었어요	to chew	3
음식을 천천히 씹어서 드세요.Chew your food slowly.
접다	접어요	접었어요	to fold	3
종이를 반으로 접으세요.Fold the paper in half.
뽑다	뽑아요	뽑았어요	to pull out; to pick, to select	3
치과에서 이를 하나 뽑았어요.I had a tooth out at the dentist’s.
얻다	얻어요	얻었어요	to get, to obtain	3
친구에게서 좋은 정보를 얻었어요.I got some useful information from a friend.
쏟다	쏟아요	쏟았어요	to spill	3
책상에 커피를 쏟았어요.I spilt coffee on the desk.
뜯다	뜯어요	뜯었어요	to tear open, to tear off	3
택배 상자를 뜯었어요.I tore open the parcel.
빗다	빗어요	빗었어요	to comb, to brush (hair)	3
거울 앞에서 머리를 빗었어요.I combed my hair in front of the mirror.
낳다	낳아요	낳았어요	to give birth to	3
언니가 지난주에 딸을 낳았어요.My older sister had a baby girl last week.
쌓다	쌓아요	쌓았어요	to pile up, to stack; to build up	3
상자를 한쪽에 쌓아 두세요.Please stack the boxes over to one side.
닿다	닿아요	닿았어요	to touch, to reach	3
선반이 너무 높아서 손이 안 닿아요.The shelf is too high — I can’t reach it.
업다	업어요	업었어요	to carry on one’s back	4
아빠가 잠든 아이를 업고 왔어요.Dad came back carrying the sleeping child on his back.
빼앗다	빼앗아요	빼앗았어요	to take away, to snatch	4
형이 제 장난감을 빼앗았어요.My older brother took my toy off me.
솟다	솟아요	솟았어요	to rise, to shoot up, to gush	4
땅에서 뜨거운 물이 솟아요.Hot water gushes up out of the ground.
수줍다	수줍어요	수줍었어요	to be shy, to be bashful	4
그 아이는 수줍어서 말을 잘 안 해요.That child is shy and doesn’t say much. The other regular adjective in ㅂ, beside 좁다.
굳다	굳어요	굳었어요	to harden, to set	4
시멘트가 아직 안 굳었어요.The cement hasn’t set yet.

Look-alikes in 르 that only drop ㅡ

4 verbs

A few verbs end in 르 and are not 르 verbs. The four below are the ones you will meet. They lose their ㅡ like any stem in ㅡ and add no second ㄹ: 따르다 becomes 따라요, not 딸라요; 들르다 becomes 들러요; 치르다 becomes 치러요. 들르다 "to drop in" is often misspelt 들리다, which is "to be heard" — so 들렀어요 is "I stopped by" and 들렸어요 "it could be heard". Verbs like these are the reason the dictionary form alone cannot tell you how a 르 verb behaves.

Dictionary form	Polite present	Polite past	English	Level
따르다	따라요	따랐어요	to follow; to pour	3
잔에 물을 따라 드릴게요.Let me pour you a glass of water.
들르다	들러요	들렀어요	to drop in, to stop off	3
집에 가는 길에 편의점에 들렀어요.I stopped off at a convenience shop on my way home. Often confused with 들리다: 들렀어요 is "I stopped by", 들렸어요 "it could be heard".
치르다	치러요	치렀어요	to sit (an exam); to pay; to hold (an event)	4
어제 기말시험을 치렀어요.I sat my end-of-term exam yesterday.
다다르다	다다라요	다다랐어요	to reach, to arrive at	4
한참 걸어서 산꼭대기에 다다랐어요.After a long walk we reached the top of the mountain.

Practise the polite present and past

One verb and its meaning, two forms to write: the polite present and the polite past. Hangul or romanisation both count.