Irregular ㄹ Verbs (Drop the L)
ㄹ, drop the ㄹ if the next part starts with **N**, **B**, or **S** (Nu-Ba-Sa).
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When a verb stem ends in 'ㄹ' and meets 'ㄴ', 'ㅂ', or 'ㅅ', the 'ㄹ' disappears.
- If the stem ends in ㄹ, drop it before ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ.
- Example: 살다 (to live) + ㅂ니다 = 삽니다 (not 살ㅂ니다).
- If the ending starts with a vowel, the ㄹ stays: 살다 + 아요 = 살아요.
Overview
Korean grammar is known for its systematic structure, but a few key irregularities are essential for natural speech. The ㄹ irregular conjugation (ㄹ 탈락, rieul tallak, meaning 'ㄹ drop') is one of the most important. It affects a large and common group of verbs and adjectives whose stems end in the consonant ㄹ.
You'll encounter this pattern constantly with high-frequency words like 살다 (to live), 알다 (to know), 만들다 (to make), 열다 (to open), and descriptive verbs (adjectives) like 길다 (to be long) and 멀다 (to be far).
This rule isn't random; it's driven by Korean phonology. The core principle is elision—the ㄹ sound is dropped to make pronunciation smoother when it meets certain grammatical endings. Specifically, the ㄹ disappears when followed by the consonants ㄴ (n), ㅂ (b), or ㅅ (s).
Furthermore, these stems have a unique interaction with the -(으) buffer vowel, often omitting it where other consonant stems would require it. For an A2 learner, mastering this rule is a critical step toward moving beyond textbook sentences and speaking more naturally.
Conjugation Table
| Ending Type | Suffix | Regular Verb (받다) |
살다 (to live) |
만들다 (to make) |
알다 (to know) |
길다 (to be long) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ||
| Formal Present | -(스/ㅂ)니다 |
받습니다 (batsseumnida) |
삽니다 (samnida) |
만듭니다 (mandeumnida) |
압니다 (amnida) |
깁니다 (gimnida) |
||
| Honorific Request | -(으)세요 |
받으세요 (badeuseyo) |
사세요 (saseyo) |
만드세요 (mandeuseyo) |
아세요 (aseyo) |
N/A (Use 길게 하세요) |
||
| Noun Modifier (Past/Descriptive) | -(으)ㄴ |
받은 (badeun) |
산 (san) |
만든 (mandeun) |
안 (an) |
긴 (gin) |
||
| Reason/Cause | -(으)니까 |
받으니까 (badeunikka) |
사니까 (sanikka) |
만드니까 (mandeunikka) |
아니까 (anikka) |
기니까 (ginikka) |
||
| Polite Present | -(아/어)요 |
받아요 (badayo) |
살아요 (sarayo) |
만들어요 (mandeureoyo) |
알아요 (arayo) |
길어요 (gireoyo) |
||
| Conditional | -(으)면 |
받으면 (badeumyeon) |
살면 (salmyeon) |
만들면 (mandeulmyeon) |
알면 (almyeon) |
길면 (gilmyeon) |
||
| Future Tense | -(으)ㄹ 거예요 |
받을 거예요 (badeul geoyeyo) |
살 거예요 (sal geoyeyo) |
만들 거예요 (mandeul geoyeyo) |
알 거예요 (al geoyeyo) |
길 거예요 (gil geoyeyo) |
How This Grammar Works
ㄹ (/l/) of a verb stem is a liquid consonant that can create a clumsy or difficult-to-pronounce sound sequence when immediately followed by certain other consonants.- 1The
ㄹDrop (Elision): The primary rule is that theㄹis elided (deleted) when it comes before a grammatical ending that starts with a nasalㄴ(nieun), a bilabialㅂ(bieup), or a fricativeㅅ(siot). This avoids phonetically challenging clusters. For example, pronouncing알습니다(alseumnida) is phonetically more complex than the simplified압니다(amnida*). The language chooses the path of least resistance.
- 1The
으Buffer Omission: In Korean, the buffer vowel으is often inserted between a consonant-final stem and a consonant-initial ending to prevent two consonants from clashing (e.g.,먹다+-면→먹으면). However, stems ending inㄹbehave as if they end in a vowel in this specific context. They do not take the으buffer. Theㄹitself serves as a sufficient bridge between the sounds. For example,살다connects directly to-면to become살면.
ㄹ stem having a special status: it's a consonant, but it acts like a vowel when it comes to needing a buffer. This dual nature is what you need to internalize.Formation Pattern
만들다 (to make) and 열다 (to open) as our models.
ㄹ Drop Rule
ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ.
Verb Stem (ending in ㄹ) + Ending (starting with ㄴ/ㅂ/ㅅ) → Verb Stem (minus ㄹ) + Ending
만들- (stem) + -ㅂ니다 (ending) → 만드- + -ㅂ니다 → 만듭니다 (I make/do make.)
열- (stem) + -(으)세요 (ending) → 여- + -세요 → 여세요 (Please open it.)
만들- (stem) + -(으)ㄴ (past tense modifier) → 만드- + -ㄴ → 만든 (made/which was made)
-(으), which is common in conditionals and future tenses.
Verb Stem (ending in ㄹ) + -(으)___ Ending → Verb Stem (with ㄹ) + -___ Ending
살- (stem) + -(으)면 (ending) → 살- + -면 → 살면 (If you live...)
열- (stem) + -(으)ㄹ 것이다 (ending) → 열- + -ㄹ 것이다 → 열 것이다 (will open)
When To Use It
ㄹ. This is not an optional or stylistic choice; failing to do so is a grammatical error. The pattern is triggered by the specific suffix you are attaching.-(스)ㅂ니다:저는 그 사실을 잘 압니다.(I know that fact well.) — from알다(to know)제 여동생은 쿠키를 만듭니다.(My little sister makes cookies.) — from만들다(to make)
-(으)세요:이쪽으로 파세요.(Please sell it over here.) — from팔다(to sell)창문 좀 여세요.(Please open the window.) — from열다(to open)
-(으)ㄴ (for past-tense action verbs or present-tense descriptive verbs):어제 만든 빵(the bread I made yesterday) — from만들다(to make)여기서 먼 곳(a place that is far from here) — from멀다(to be far)
When Not To Use It
ㄹ does not drop. Over-applying the rule is as much an error as forgetting it.ㄹ sound simply moves into the next syllable. There is no conflict to resolve.알다+-아요→알아요(a-ra-yo). Theㄹbecomes the initial sound of the second syllable.만들다+-었어요→만들었어요(man-deu-reo-sseo-yo).
ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ:ㄹ remains, and you conjugate it like any other regular consonant stem.살다+-고→살고(sal-go, live and...)만들다+-지만→만들지만(man-deul-ji-man, make but...)열다+-게→열게(yeol-ge, so that it opens)
-(으)ㄹ:-(으)ㄹ 거예요 and the prospective noun modifier -(으)ㄹ. The 으 buffer is dropped (as per Pattern 2), and the ㄹ from the stem attaches to the ㄹ from the ending. You don't drop the stem's ㄹ.팔다+-(으)ㄹ 거예요→팔 거예요(I will sell it.)놀다+-(으)ㄹ 사람→놀 사람(a person who will play)
Common Mistakes
ㄹ.ㄹ irregular like a regular verb.- Incorrect:
*저는 한국에서 살습니다. - Correct:
저는 한국에서 삽니다.(I live in Korea.) - Why it happens: The learner correctly identifies the
-습니다formal ending but fails to apply theㄹdrop rule beforeㅅ.
으 buffer.으 but forgets that ㄹ is the exception.- Incorrect:
*이 상자를 열으세요. - Correct:
이 상자를 여세요.(Please open this box.) - Why it happens: The brain's rule for consonant stems (
먹다→먹으세요) is over-applied to the special case ofㄹstems.
ㄹ before the wrong consonants.ㄹ before endings like -고 or -지.- Incorrect:
*주말에 뭐 하고 노셨어요?(Mixing놀다and노from놓다) - Correct:
주말에 뭐 하고 노셨어요?(Correct form uses놀다->노시고->노셨어요, so the example is tricky. Let's use another.) - Incorrect:
*사고 싶어요.(I want to buy.) instead of살고 싶어요.(I want to live.) - Correct:
한국에서 살고 싶어요.(I want to live in Korea.) - Why it happens: The learner remembers the
ㄹdrops, but forgets the trigger is onlyㄴ,ㅂ,ㅅ.
-(으)ㄴ ending is used for descriptive verbs (adjectives) in the present tense and action verbs in the past tense. For ㄹ stems, the result looks identical, which can be confusing.먼 곳(a far place) — from멀다(descriptive verb, present tense)만든 음식(the food someone made) — from만들다(action verb, past tense)- The key is context.
만든must refer to a completed action, while먼describes a current state.
Memory Trick
To remember which consonants cause the ㄹ to drop, you can use a mnemonic. Think of the ㄹ as a delicate Leaf on a tree branch.
Three things can knock the Leaf (ㄹ) off the branch:
- A strong Nose (ㄴ) blowing air
- A popping Bubble (ㅂ)
- A sharp pair of Scissors (ㅅ)
When the ㄹ leaf encounters a Nose, Bubble, or Scissors, it falls off (ㄹ is dropped). So, just remember the acronym NBS. 알다 + ㅂ니다 → 압니다.
For the second part of the rule (no 으 buffer), think of the ㄹ stem as being self-sufficient. It's strong enough to connect directly to consonant endings like -면 or -ㄹ without needing the 으 crutch that other consonant stems like 먹- or 앉- require. 살- + -면 is simply 살면.
Real Conversations
Here’s how this grammar appears in everyday situations, from texting to casual conversation.
Scenario 1
- A: 이번 주말에 뭐 할 거야? (What are you going to do this weekend?)
- B: 글쎄... 아직 잘 모르겠어. 그냥 집에서 놀까 생각 중. (Hmm... I don't know yet. Just thinking about hanging out at home.)
- Grammar Point: 놀다 (to play/hang out) + -(으)ㄹ까 → 놀까. The 으 buffer is omitted.
Scenario 2
- Customer: 이 빵은 오늘 만든 거예요? (Is this bread something you made today?)
- Baker: 네, 방금 전에 만들었습니다. (Yes, we made it just a moment ago.)
- Grammar Point: 만들다 (to make) + -(으)ㄴ (past modifier) → 만든. And 만들다 + -습니다 → 만들었습니다.
Scenario 3
- Tourist: 여기서 명동이 멀어요? (Is Myeongdong far from here?)
- Local: 아니요, 안 멀어요. 지하철로 10분이면 돼요. (No, it's not far. It takes 10 minutes by subway.)
- Grammar Point: 멀다 (to be far) + -아요/어요 → 멀어요. Here, the ㄹ does not drop because it's followed by a vowel.
Scenario 4
- Team Lead: 김 대리, 이 프로젝트에 대해 아는 거 있어요? (Mr. Kim, is there anything you know about this project?)
- Mr. Kim: 네, 제가 아는 선에서 설명해 드릴게요. (Yes, I will explain within the scope of what I know.)
- Grammar Point: 알다 (to know) + -는 (present modifier) → 아는. Here the ㄹ drops before ㄴ.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
ㄹ irregular pattern with other conjugations that might seem similar at first glance.ㄹ Irregular vs. Regular Consonant Stems으 buffer. Regular consonant stems need it; ㄹ stems reject it.ㄹIrregular:살다+-(으)면→살면(If you live)- Regular Consonant:
닫다(to close) +-(으)면→닫으면(If you close)
ㄹ Irregular vs. ㄷ Irregular (ㄷ 불규칙)ㄷ irregular often turns into an ㄹ. The key is to look at what happens before a vowel.ㄹIrregular: Theㄹis part of the stem and is stable before a vowel.열다+어요→열어요.ㄷIrregular: Theㄷchanges toㄹonly before a vowel.듣다(to listen) +어요→들어요.
ㄹ Irregular vs. ㅂ Irregular (ㅂ 불규칙)ㄹ drops, while ㅂ transforms.ㄹIrregular: Theㄹsimply vanishes before-(스)ㅂ니다.만들다→만듭니다.ㅂIrregular: Theㅂmerges with the vowel, becoming우or오.춥다(to be cold) +어요→추워요.
ㄹ Irregular vs. 르 Irregular (르 불규칙)르 irregulars have a stem ending in the vowel 으, not the consonant ㄹ.ㄹIrregular:멀다+어요→멀어요(The stem is멀-)르Irregular:모르다(to not know) +아요→몰라요(The stem is모르-, and an extraㄹis added).
Progressive Practice
Test your understanding with these exercises. The answers are provided below each question.
Level 1: Identification
Which of the following verbs follows the ㄹ irregular pattern?
a) 먹다 (to eat) b) 울다 (to cry) c) 돕다 (to help) d) 빠르다 (to be fast)
Answer: b) 울다. The stem is 울-.
Level 2: Simple Conjugation
Conjugate 팔다 (to sell) into the formal present polite tense -(스)ㅂ니다.
Answer: 팝니다.
Turn the adjective 길다 (to be long) into a noun modifier to describe "hair" (머리).
Answer: 긴 머리.
Level 3: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentence using 알다 (to know) and the ending -(으)니까: 제가 그 길을 잘 _____, 걱정하지 마세요. (Since I know that road well, don't worry.)
Answer: 아니까.
Translate to Korean: "Please make a reservation."
*Answer: 예약하세요. is common, but using an ㄹ verb: 자리를 만들어 주세요. (Please make/create a spot/seat.)
Quick FAQ
ㄹ?Yes, if the dictionary form ends in -ㄹ다 and the ㄹ is the final consonant of the stem (like 살다, 알다, 팔다), it follows this pattern. Don't confuse this with verbs like 부르다 (to call) or 다르다 (to be different); their stems are 부르- and 다르-, ending in a vowel, and they follow the 르 irregular pattern instead.
놀다 + -(으)ㄹ 거예요 become 놀 거예요? Shouldn't there be two ㄹs?This is an excellent question that highlights the "no 으 buffer" rule. First, you take the stem 놀-. You add the future tense ending -(으)ㄹ 거예요. Because 놀- is an ㄹ stem, you drop the 으 buffer. This leaves you with 놀- + -ㄹ 거예요. The two ㄹs are written, but in pronunciation, they merge into a single, slightly longer /l/ sound: 놀 거예요 (nol kkeo-ye-yo).
ㄹ irregular verbs?There are too many to memorize effectively. This pattern applies to a whole class of words, not a short list. It's far more efficient to learn the rule and the pattern triggers (ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ). Some of the most frequent ones to get you started include: 알다 (know), 살다 (live), 만들다 (make), 열다 (open), 울다 (cry), 팔다 (sell), 놀다 (play/hang out), 들다 (lift/hold), 길다 (long), 멀다 (far), and 달다 (sweet).
ㄹ-Drop Conjugation Table
| Verb | Stem | Suffix (-ㅂ니다) | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
살다
|
살
|
ㅂ니다
|
삽니다
|
|
만들다
|
만들
|
ㅂ니다
|
만듭니다
|
|
팔다
|
팔
|
ㅂ니다
|
팝니다
|
|
놀다
|
놀
|
ㅂ니다
|
놉니다
|
|
멀다
|
멀
|
ㅂ니다
|
멉니다
|
|
알다
|
알
|
ㅂ니다
|
압니다
|
Meanings
This rule describes the phonetic simplification of verb stems ending in the liquid consonant 'ㄹ' when followed by specific consonant-initial suffixes.
Formal Conjugation
Used in formal speech levels ending in -ㅂ니다.
“만들다 -> 만듭니다”
“팔다 -> 팝니다”
Adnominal/Noun Modifying
Used when modifying a noun with a verb.
“살다 -> 사는 사람”
“만들다 -> 만드는 음식”
Honorific Suffixes
Used when adding honorific markers starting with ㅅ.
“살다 -> 사십니다”
“만들다 -> 만드십니다”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Formal
|
Stem + ㅂ니다
|
삽니다
|
|
Adnominal
|
Stem + 는
|
사는
|
|
Honorific
|
Stem + 십니다
|
사십니다
|
|
Question
|
Stem + 니까
|
삽니까
|
|
Negative
|
안 + Stem + ㅂ니다
|
안 삽니다
|
|
Past
|
Stem + 았습니다
|
살았습니다
|
Formality Spectrum
저는 서울에 삽니다. (Stating residence)
저는 서울에 살아요. (Stating residence)
나 서울에 살아. (Stating residence)
서울 살아. (Stating residence)
The ㄹ-Drop Logic
Suffixes
- ㄴ Adnominal
- ㅂ Formal
- ㅅ Honorific
Action
- ㄹ 삭제 Delete ㄹ
Examples by Level
저는 한국에 삽니다.
I live in Korea.
김밥을 만듭니다.
I make kimbap.
친구랑 놉니다.
I hang out with a friend.
여기에 팝니다.
They sell it here.
사는 곳이 어디예요?
Where do you live?
만드는 방법이 쉬워요.
The way to make it is easy.
먼 곳으로 가요.
I am going to a far place.
사십니다.
He/she lives (honorific).
그분은 서울에 사십니다.
He lives in Seoul (honorific).
우리가 만드는 것은 케이크입니다.
What we are making is a cake.
거리가 너무 멉니다.
The distance is too far.
그 가게는 물건을 잘 팝니다.
That store sells goods well.
선생님께서 사시는 곳을 압니다.
I know where the teacher lives.
직접 만드는 음식은 건강합니다.
Food you make yourself is healthy.
너무 먼 길을 걸어왔습니다.
I walked a very long way.
그들은 매일 놉니다.
They play every day.
이것은 제가 직접 만든 것입니다.
This is something I made myself.
어르신께서 사시는 동네입니다.
This is the neighborhood where the elder lives.
먼 미래를 생각해야 합니다.
We must think about the distant future.
그 회사는 제품을 잘 만듭니다.
That company makes products well.
그분은 평생을 이곳에서 사셨습니다.
He lived his whole life here.
우리가 만드는 미래는 밝습니다.
The future we are creating is bright.
너무 먼 곳이라 가기 힘듭니다.
It is too far to go.
그는 열심히 놉니다.
He plays hard.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the deletion of ㄹ with the change of ㄷ to ㄹ.
Learners think ㅂ also drops.
Learners drop ㄹ even when the suffix doesn't start with ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ.
Common Mistakes
살ㅂ니다
삽니다
만들ㅂ니다
만듭니다
살아요 (as 사아요)
살아요
놀는
노는
멀ㅂ니다
멉니다
팔는
파는
알십니다
아십니다
울ㅂ니다
웁니다
만들는
만드는
살십니다
사십니다
멀는
먼
살는
사는
만들십니다
만드십니다
Sentence Patterns
저는 ___에 삽니다.
이것은 제가 ___ 음식입니다.
그곳은 너무 ___.
___ 사람이 행복합니다.
Real World Usage
오늘 만든 케이크!
어디 살아?
저는 이 제품을 만듭니다.
이거 파나요?
거기가 멉니까?
직접 만든 반찬
Check the Suffix
Don't Over-Delete
Practice with '살다'
Formal Speech
Smart Tips
Always check for the ㄹ-drop before adding -ㅂ니다.
Remember that -는 triggers the drop.
The honorific -십니다 also triggers the drop.
Don't drop the ㄹ if the suffix starts with a vowel.
Pronunciation
ㄹ-drop
When the ㄹ is dropped, the preceding vowel becomes the end of the syllable, making it easier to connect to the next sound.
Statement
저는 삽니다. ↘
Falling intonation for declarative sentences.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'L' is a 'Lazy' letter; it hides when it sees the 'NBS' (No-B-S) squad.
Visual Association
Imagine a letter 'ㄹ' wearing a hat. When it sees the letters 'ㄴ', 'ㅂ', or 'ㅅ', it pulls the hat down over its eyes and disappears!
Rhyme
When you see ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ, the ㄹ must go away, that's the Korean way!
Story
Mr. ㄹ was a very social letter. He loved hanging out with vowels. But whenever he saw the 'NBS' gang (ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ), he got shy and ran away. He only comes back when the coast is clear.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences using '살다' and '만들다' in the formal 'ㅂ니다' form.
Cultural Notes
The ㄹ-drop is standard in all formal and written communication.
Dialects may sometimes retain the ㄹ or use different endings, but the standard rule is widely understood.
Using the correct formal conjugation (including the ㄹ-drop) is essential for showing respect in professional settings.
The ㄹ-drop is a result of historical sound changes in Middle Korean to facilitate easier pronunciation.
Conversation Starters
어디에 사세요?
무엇을 만들고 있어요?
이것을 어디서 팝니까?
먼 곳까지 어떻게 가요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
저는 서울에 ___.
음식을 ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
그는 한국에 살ㅂ니다.
서울 / 삽니다 / 저는 / 에
물건을 ___.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
ㄹ drops before vowels.
A: 어디에 살아요? B: 저는 서울에 ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises저는 서울에 ___.
음식을 ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
그는 한국에 살ㅂ니다.
서울 / 삽니다 / 저는 / 에
물건을 ___.
살다, 만들다, 팔다
ㄹ drops before vowels.
A: 어디에 살아요? B: 저는 서울에 ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises저희 가게는 커피를 ___.
창문 좀 ___.
Which form is correct?
바람이 붑니까?
Match the pairs
저는 / 사람을 / 그 / 압니다
집이 ___ 일찍 출발하세요.
I make bread.
머리가 길어서 자르고 싶어요.
Select the ending that triggers the irregularity.
저기 ___ 아이가 누구니?
Please sell.
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
It disappears to make the word easier to pronounce when followed by certain consonants.
It applies to almost all verbs ending in ㄹ.
The ㄹ stays! For example, '살아요'.
Yes, it is used in both formal and informal writing.
You need to memorize the suffixes like -ㅂ니다, -는, -십니다.
There are very few, mostly in rare or archaic verbs.
Yes, the rule is universal.
Conjugate common verbs like '살다' and '만들다' repeatedly.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Verb conjugation
Spanish has no equivalent to the ㄹ-drop phonetic deletion.
Liaison
Liaison adds sounds; ㄹ-drop removes them.
Verb inflection
German does not have a systematic liquid-deletion rule.
Verb conjugation
Japanese conjugation is based on vowel stems.
Root-based morphology
Arabic roots are usually triliteral and don't drop letters this way.
None
Chinese verbs do not change form.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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