알아요.

The Korean word '알아요' (arayo) is the polite present tense form of the verb '알다' (alda), meaning 'to know' or 'to understand.' Its etymology can be traced back to Old Korean. The root '알-' (al-) has been consistently present in the language, signifying knowledge or recognition across various historical stages. The ending '-아요' (-ayo) is a common polite declarative ending in modern Korean, formed from the infinitive stem of the verb plus the honorific suffix '-시-' (-si-) (though not always overtly present in every conjugation) and the politeness marker '-어/아' (-eo/a) followed by '-요' (-yo). This conjugation pattern reflects the evolution of Korean grammar from Middle Korean, where more complex and varied conjugations existed, into the more streamlined forms of Modern Korean. The core concept of 'knowing' or 'understanding' has remained central to the verb throughout its development. The word '알다' itself doesn't have a clear, widely accepted etymology from a non-Korean root, suggesting it is a native Korean word that has been fundamental to the language for centuries, likely predating the significant influx of Chinese characters (Hanja) into the Korean lexicon. It has cognates in other Altaic languages, further hinting at its ancient origins within the linguistic family.