I can say “and” and “with whom” in conversation — 하고, 이랑 / 랑 — and in writing — 과 / 와, choosing the particle by the last sound of the word, and say who I live with, am friends with, and talk to.
“And” and “with”: 하고, 이랑, and 와 / 과
“And” and “with”: 하고, 이랑, and 와 / 과
English “and” between things and “with” (with whom) are three Korean particles. The meaning is the same; the difference is style (see the table). Within a pair, the last sound of the word before decides, the way the next sound decides English a / an.
• 하고: spoken; after any sound: 빵하고 우유.
• 이랑 / 랑: also spoken, warmer, with people you're close to: after a 받침 이랑 (민준이랑), after a vowel 랑 (현우랑, 서연 씨랑).
• 과 / 와: writing and formal speech: forms, lists, announcements. After a 받침 과 (여권과 사진), after a vowel 와 (비자와 여권). The short 와 goes after a vowel, not after a 받침.
“With whom” takes the same particles, often with 같이 or 함께 (함께 is more formal): 친구랑 같이 가요, 동료와 함께. Alone, with no one: 혼자. 같이 is written with ㅌ but sounds [가치]: ㅌ before 이 is read as ㅊ.
There is no ㄹ exception for 과 and 이랑: 교실과, 일요일이랑 (unlike (으)로: 지하철로).
Common mistakes:
• ×가방와 → 가방과
• ×언니과 → 언니와
• ×누나이랑 → 누나랑
• ×먹어요하고 마셔요 → 먹고 마셔요 (“and” between verbs is -고)
“And” and “with”: three particles, three styles
Same meaning, different style. Within a pair, the last sound of the word decides.
| Particle | After a 받침 | After a vowel | Where it's used | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 하고 | 하고 | 하고 | conversation | 빵하고 우유 |
| (이)랑 | 이랑 | 랑 | talking with people close to you | 민준이랑 · 현우랑 |
| 과 / 와 | 과 | 와 | forms, lists, announcements | 여권과 사진 · 비자와 여권 |
Lesson notes
“And” and “with”: 하고, 이랑, and 와 / 과
English “and” between things and “with” (with whom) are three Korean particles. The meaning is the same; the difference is style (see the table). Within a pair, the last sound of the word before decides, the way the next sound decides English a / an.
• 하고: spoken; after any sound: 빵하고 우유.
• 이랑 / 랑: also spoken, warmer, with people you're close to: after a 받침 이랑 (민준이랑), after a vowel 랑 (현우랑, 서연 씨랑).
• 과 / 와: writing and formal speech: forms, lists, announcements. After a 받침 과 (여권과 사진), after a vowel 와 (비자와 여권). The short 와 goes after a vowel, not after a 받침.
“With whom” takes the same particles, often with 같이 or 함께 (함께 is more formal): 친구랑 같이 가요, 동료와 함께. Alone, with no one: 혼자. 같이 is written with ㅌ but sounds [가치]: ㅌ before 이 is read as ㅊ.
There is no ㄹ exception for 과 and 이랑: 교실과, 일요일이랑 (unlike (으)로: 지하철로).
Common mistakes:
• ×가방와 → 가방과
• ×언니과 → 언니와
• ×누나이랑 → 누나랑
• ×먹어요하고 마셔요 → 먹고 마셔요 (“and” between verbs is -고)