Korean 'reu' (르) Irregular Verbs
르 verb meets a vowel, the ㄹ doubles and the ㅡ vanishes.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When a verb stem ends in '르', drop the 'ㅡ' and add a 'ㄹ' to the preceding syllable.
- If the vowel before '르' is 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ', add '라' (e.g., 모르다 -> 몰라요).
- If the vowel before '르' is anything else, add '러' (e.g., 부르다 -> 불러요).
- The '르' syllable itself disappears, leaving the 'ㄹ' as a batchim for the previous syllable.
Overview
The Korean 르 (reu) irregular verb conjugation is a pivotal pattern for A2 learners, significantly affecting the natural flow and sound of the language. Unlike regular verbs, those ending in 르 undergo a specific transformation when followed by a vowel-initial ending, such as the common informal polite -(아/어)요 (-(a/eo)yo) or conjunctive -(아/어)서 (-(a/eo)seo). This irregularity is rooted in Korean phonology, particularly the behavior of the liquid consonant ㄹ (rieul) and vowel harmony principles, aiming for phonetic ease and fluidity in pronunciation.
Mastering this pattern not only ensures grammatical correctness but also enhances native-like articulation by allowing you to correctly pronounce forms like 몰라요 (mollayo – I don't know) instead of 모르어요 (moreueoyo).
Conjugation Table
| Base Verb (Dictionary Form) | Meaning | Syllable Preceding 르 (Vowel) |
Informal Polite Present -(아/어)요 Form |
Formal Polite Present -(스/ㅂ)니다 Form |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :------------------------- | :------------------- | :------------------------------ | :--------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------- | ||
모르다 (moreuda) |
to not know | 모 (ㅗ) | 몰라요 (mollayo) |
모릅니다 (moreumnida) |
||
빠르다 (ppareuda) |
to be fast | 빠 (ㅏ) | 빨라요 (ppallayo) |
빠릅니다 (ppareumnida) |
||
다르다 (dareuda) |
to be different | 다 (ㅏ) | 달라요 (dallayo) |
다릅니다 (dareumnida) |
||
고르다 (goreuda) |
to choose | 고 (ㅗ) | 골라요 (gollayo) |
고릅니다 (goreumnida) |
||
부르다 (bureuda) |
to call / sing | 부 (ㅜ) | 불러요 (bulleoyo) |
부릅니다 (bureumnida) |
||
기르다 (gireuda) |
to raise / grow | 기 (ㅣ) | 길러요 (gilleoyo) |
기릅니다 (gireumnida) |
||
자르다 (jareuda) |
to cut | 자 (ㅏ) | 잘라요 (jallayo) |
자릅니다 (jareumnida) |
||
마르다 (mareuda) |
to be dry / thirsty | 마 (ㅏ) | 말라요 (mallayo) |
마릅니다 (mareumnida) |
How This Grammar Works
르 exhibit an irregular pattern exclusively when they encounter a vowel-initial suffix. The fundamental principle is that the 르 syllable transforms into ㄹㄹ (ll). One ㄹ migrates to become the batchim (final consonant) of the syllable immediately preceding 르, while the other ㄹ initiates the vowel-initial suffix.아 (a) or 어 (eo)). This dynamic phonological adjustment makes the word easier to pronounce by creating a smoother transition between syllables, characteristic of the Korean language's preference for liquid sound assimilation and avoidance of vowel collisions.모르다 (to not know), the 르 interacts with -(아/어)요. The ㄹ from 르 moves to the preceding syllable 모, making it 몰. The remaining ㄹ then forms the onset of the suffix, which becomes 라 because of vowel harmony with 모's ㅗ (o).몰라요. Similarly, 부르다 (to call) has 부 (bu) before 르. The ㄹ moves to 부, making it 불.러 due to vowel harmony with 부's ㅜ (u), resulting in 불러요.ㄹ sounds. Consider 서울역 (Seoul-yeok) being often pronounced closer to 설력 (seol-lyeok) in rapid speech due to ㄹ assimilation.Formation Pattern
르 irregular verbs and adjectives follows a precise, multi-step process. This method ensures both the correct ㄹ duplication and appropriate vowel harmony for the suffix. You must first identify the vowel of the syllable directly preceding 르.
다 (da) from the verb or adjective. For example, 모르다 becomes 모르.
르. For 모르, this is 모 (mo). For 빠르다, it is 빠 (ppa).
ㄹ Duplication (Irregularity Trigger):
ㄹ from 르 and move it to become the batchim of the preceding syllable. This transforms 모 into 몰 (mol) and 빠 into 빨 (ppal).
르 is effectively broken apart: its vowel ㅡ (eu) disappears, and its ㄹ consonant splits into two.
르 (the one you modified in step 3). This is crucial for vowel harmony, not the vowel of the now-modified syllable.
ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o) (considered bright vowels), add the suffix starting with 라 (ra). For 모 (ㅗ) and 빠 (ㅏ), you add 라.
ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ, etc. – considered dark vowels), add the suffix starting with 러 (reo). For 부 (ㅜ) in 부르다, you add 러.
요 (yo), 서 (seo), etc.).
모르다 (to not know)
모르
모 (original vowel ㅗ)
ㄹ duplication: 모 + ㄹ → 몰
ㅗ is bright, so add 라.
몰 + 라 + 요 → 몰라요 (mollayo)
부르다 (to call/sing)
부르
부 (original vowel ㅜ)
ㄹ duplication: 부 + ㄹ → 불
ㅜ is dark, so add 러.
불 + 러 + 요 → 불러요 (bulleoyo)
빠르다 (to be fast)
빠르
빠 (original vowel ㅏ)
ㄹ duplication: 빠 + ㄹ → 빨
ㅏ is bright, so add 라.
빨 + 라 + 요 → 빨라요 (ppallayo)
When To Use It
르 irregular pattern is essential for daily communication in Korean, appearing in high-frequency verbs and adjectives. You will primarily use this rule in any context requiring a vowel-initial suffix to be attached to a 르-ending stem.- Informal Polite Speech (
-(아/어)요): This is the most frequent context, used in virtually all casual and polite interactions. If you need to say "I don't know" (몰라요), "It's different" (달라요), or "I choose" (골라요), you must apply this rule. - Example: "버스 노선이 달라요." (Beoseu noseoni dallayo. – The bus route is different.)
- Example: "어디에 있는지 몰라요." (Eodie inneunji mollayo. – I don't know where it is.)
- Conjunctive Endings (
-(아/어)서,-(아/어)도): When connecting clauses, such as expressing cause/reason (-아서) or concession (-아도). - Example: "배가 고파서 밥을 먹었어요." (Baega gopaseo babeul meogeosseoyo. – I was hungry, so I ate rice.) – Note:
고프다is also a르irregular (고프 + ㄹ + 아 → 고파). - Example: "길을 몰라도 괜찮아요." (Gireul mollado gwaenchannayo. – Even if I don't know the way, it's okay.)
- Past Tense (
-았/었-): The르irregular change happens first, and then the past tense marker is applied to the already transformed stem. - Example:
자르다(to cut) →잘라요(present) →잘랐어요(jallasseoyo – past tense, I cut it). - Example:
서두르다(to hurry) →서둘러요(present) →서둘렀어요(seodulleosseoyo – past tense, I hurried).
- Future Tense (
-(으)ㄹ 거예요): Theㄹfrom the르irregularity combines with the future tense ending. However, because-(으)ㄹ 거예요starts with a consonant (ㄹ), the initial르irregularity is less about theㄹduplication and more about theㅡvowel dropping. But many still consider this under the르irregular umbrella because of how the base stem is treated. - Example:
모르다→모를 거예요(moreul geoyeyo – I probably won't know / I'm going to not know). - Example:
빠르다→빠를 거예요(ppareul geoyeyo – It will be fast).
When Not To Use It
르 irregular rule is strictly conditional and does not apply in several common grammatical situations. Understanding these exceptions is as vital as knowing when to apply the rule.- With Consonant-Initial Suffixes: The most fundamental exception is when the suffix attached to the verb stem begins with a consonant. In these cases, the
르syllable remains unchanged, and the verb or adjective conjugates regularly. - Common consonant-initial suffixes include:
-(으)면(-(eu)myeon – if/when),-고(-go – and/then),-지만(-jiman – but),-(으)러(-(eu)reo – in order to). - Example:
모르다(to not know) +-(으)면→모르면(moreumyeon – if you don't know), NOT몰르면. - Example:
다르다(to be different) +-고→다르고(dareugo – is different and...), NOT달라고. - Example: "한국말을 모르지만 배우고 싶어요." (Hangungmareul moreujiman baeugo sipeoyo. – I don't know Korean, but I want to learn it.)
- With the Formal Polite
-(스/ㅂ)니다: This ending always begins with a consonant (스orㅂ). Therefore,르irregulars conjugate regularly here. - Example:
모르다→모릅니다(moreumnida – I do not know). - Example:
다르다→다릅니다(dareumnida – It is different).
- Verbs with
ㄹBatchim in the Syllable Before르: While rare, if the syllable immediately preceding르already has anㄹbatchim, the르irregular rule typically does not apply in the same way. These verbs are often just regularㅡdroppers, or they may have other specific irregularities. However, for A2 learners, encountering these is less common, and focusing on the standard르irregulars is sufficient.
- Specific Exceptions like
따르다(to follow/pour): Some verbs ending in르do not follow the irregular pattern. The most notable is따르다(ttareuda). When conjugating따르다with a vowel-initial suffix, it behaves like a regularㅡdropping verb. Theㅡsimply drops, andㅏorㅓis added based on the preceding vowel. Since따hasㅏ, it becomes따라요(ttarayo), not딸라요. - Example: "저를 따라오세요." (Jeoreul ttaraoseyo. – Please follow me.)
- Example: "술을 잔에 따라요." (Sureul jane ttarayo. – I pour alcohol into the glass.)
르 is an irregular 르 verb. It's crucial to identify the truly irregular ones through consistent exposure and practice.Common Mistakes
르 irregular rule. Recognizing these common pitfalls can significantly accelerate your mastery.- Forgetting the Double
ㄹ(ㄹㄹ): This is the most prevalent error. Learners often drop theㅡfrom르but fail to add the firstㄹas a batchim to the preceding syllable, resulting in a singleㄹsound instead of the required doubleㄹ. - Incorrect:
모라요(morayo) instead of몰라요(mollayo). - Incorrect:
다라요(darayo) instead of달라요(dallayo). - Explanation: The double
ㄹsound (ㄹㄹ) is crucial for both pronunciation and grammatical correctness. Omitting oneㄹmakes the word sound unnatural and can hinder comprehension.
- Incorrect Vowel Harmony: After performing the
ㄹduplication, some learners mistakenly apply theㅏ/ㅗrule to the newly formed syllable (e.g.,몰) instead of the original vowel of the syllable that preceded르(e.g.,모). - Incorrect:
몰러요(molleoyo) for모르다(becauseㅗis a bright vowel, it should be라). - Correct:
몰라요(mollayo). - Incorrect:
빨러요(ppalleoyo) for빠르다(becauseㅏis a bright vowel, it should be라). - Correct:
빨라요(ppallayo). - Explanation: Vowel harmony dictates that the suffix vowel (
아or어) is determined by the vowel of the syllable before the르, before theㄹduplication occurs. Always look at the original vowel.
- Applying the Irregularity to Consonant-Initial Endings: As discussed in the "When Not To Use It" section, the
르irregular rule applies only to vowel-initial suffixes. Using it with consonant-initial endings is a significant grammatical error. - Incorrect:
몰라지만(mollajiman) instead of모르지만(moreujiman). - Incorrect:
달라고(dallago) instead of다르고(dareugo). - Explanation: The phonetic motivation for the
ㄹduplication is to smooth vowel transitions. When the suffix starts with a consonant, this phonetic need does not arise, and the verb remains regular.
- Confusing with Regular
ㅡDropping: While르irregular verbs drop theㅡ, they are distinct from otherㅡdropping verbs. Regularㅡdropping verbs simply remove theㅡand attach아/어based on the preceding syllable's vowel, without theㄹduplication. For example,쓰다(sseuda – to write) becomes써요(sseoyo), not쓸어요.
- Misidentifying Irregular
르Verbs (e.g.,따르다): Incorrectly applying the르irregular rule to verbs like따르다(to follow/pour) is a common error. Remember that따르다is a regularㅡdropping verb. - Incorrect:
딸라요(ttallayo) instead of따라요(ttarayo). - Explanation: There are a few
르-ending verbs that are not irregular. Memorizing these common exceptions (따르다) helps prevent misapplication of the rule. When in doubt, consult a dictionary or reliable grammar resource.
Memory Trick
To consistently apply the 르 irregular rule, envision the 르 syllable as a "Double L Splitter."
1. "L" for Left, "L" for Right: Think of the ㄹ in 르 splitting into two: one L goes to the Left (to the batchim of the preceding syllable), and the other L goes to the Right (to start the new suffix).
2. "Vowel Vision": Before the split, check the vowel of the syllable to the left of 르. This "vowel vision" guides whether the suffix part of the split L will be 라 (for bright vowels ㅏ, ㅗ) or 러 (for dark vowels ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ).
So, 모르다 → 모 (L-part 1) + ㄹ (L-part 2) + 라 (Vowel Vision for ㅗ) → 몰라요.
부르다 → 부 (L-part 1) + ㄹ (L-part 2) + 러 (Vowel Vision for ㅜ) → 불러요.
This simple visual and phonetic reminder helps solidify the two main components of the rule: the ㄹ duplication and the vowel harmony application.
Real Conversations
The 르 irregular verbs are fundamental to natural Korean communication. You will encounter them constantly in everyday dialogue, media, and written texts. Here are examples reflecting contemporary usage:
- Social Media/Texting (Casual):
- A: "이 영화 어때?" (I yeonghwa eottae? – How's this movie?)
- B: "음... 전에 본 영화랑 좀 달라." (Eum... jeone bon yeonghwarang jom dalla. – Hmm... it's a bit different from the movie I saw before.)
- Here, 다르다 (to be different) is used casually (달라).
- Work/Academic Setting (Polite):
- A: "이 데이터 분석 결과에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?" (I deiteo bunseok gyeolgwae daehae eotteoke saenggakhaseyo? – What do you think about these data analysis results?)
- B: "죄송합니다만, 자세한 내용은 아직 몰라요." (Joesonghamnida-man, jasehan naeyongeun ajik mollayo. – I'm sorry, but I don't know the detailed contents yet.)
- 모르다 (to not know) is used politely (몰라요) in a professional context.
- Everyday Situations (Describing):
- "어제 운동 많이 해서 다리가 너무 아파요." (Eoje undong mani haeseo dariga neomu apayo. – I exercised a lot yesterday, so my legs really hurt.)
- 아프다 (to be sick/hurt) is a 르 irregular (아프 + ㄹ + 아 → 아파).
- "빨리 와! 시간이 없어." (Ppalli wa! Sigani eopseo. – Come quickly! There's no time.)
- 없다 (to not exist/have) is regular, but contrasts with the urgency that 빠르다 (빨리) can convey.
- Cultural Insight: The speed implied by 빠르다 (to be fast) and its adverbial form 빨리 (ppalli – quickly) is deeply ingrained in Korean culture, often associated with a fast-paced lifestyle, especially in urban environments. You will hear 빨리 빨리 (ppalli ppalli – hurry up!) frequently in daily life, underscoring the functional importance of this irregular verb.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
르 irregular rule shares characteristics with other irregular conjugations and vowel-dropping phenomena, but it is distinct. Understanding these contrasts prevents misapplication.- Contrast with Regular
ㅡDropping: - Regular
ㅡdropping verbs (e.g.,쓰다(to write),크다(to be big)) simply drop theㅡand add아or어based on the vowel of the preceding syllable. There is noㄹduplication.
쓰다 (쓰) | (None) | 써요 | Vowel ㅡ drops, ㅓ is added. |크다 (크) | (None) | 커요 | Vowel ㅡ drops, ㅓ is added. |예쁘다 (예쁘) | 예 (ㅔ) | 예뻐요 | ㅔ is dark, so ㅓ is added. |르irregular verbs (e.g.,모르다,빠르다) involve bothㅡdropping and theㄹduplication. This is the key distinguishing factor.
- Contrast with
ㄷIrregular Verbs: ㄷirregular verbs (e.g.,듣다(to listen),걷다(to walk)) change their finalㄷ(d) toㄹ(r) when followed by a vowel. This change affects the final consonant of the stem, not the internal르syllable.
듣다 (듣) | to listen | 들어요 | ㄷ changes to ㄹ. |걷다 (걷) | to walk | 걸어요 | ㄷ changes to ㄹ. |- The
ㄹin듣다becomes a singleㄹthat initiates the suffix, whereas르irregulars produce a doubleㄹ(ㄹㄹ).
- Contrast with
ㅂIrregular Verbs: ㅂirregular verbs (e.g.,춥다(to be cold),돕다(to help)) change their finalㅂ(b) toㅜ(u) orㅗ(o) (depending on vowel harmony) before a vowel-initial suffix. Again, this is a change to the final consonant of the stem.
춥다 (춥) | to be cold | 추워요 | ㅂ changes to ㅜ (추 + 워요). |돕다 (돕) | to help | 도와요 | ㅂ changes to ㅗ (도 + 와요). |- The phonetic transformation (ㅂ → ㅜ/ㅗ) is entirely different from the
ㄹduplication seen in르irregulars.
르 irregular's unique ㄹ duplication and vowel harmony sequence sets it apart from other common irregularities.Progressive Practice
To solidify your understanding of 르 irregular verbs, engage in structured practice exercises that gradually increase in complexity.
Basic Conjugation Drill: Take the following 르 irregular verbs and adjectives and conjugate them into the informal polite present tense (-(아/어)요):
- 다르다 (to be different)
- 빠르다 (to be fast)
- 부르다 (to call/sing)
- 고르다 (to choose)
- 바르다 (to be straight/correct – Hint: ㅏ is a bright vowel)
Tense and Conjunctive Practice: Conjugate the following verbs with the specified endings:
- 모르다 with -(아/어)서 (because/so)
- 마르다 (to be dry/thirsty) into the past tense (-았/었어요)
- 서두르다 (to hurry) with -(으)면 (if/when – Remember: consonant ending!)
- 자르다 (to cut) with -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (future tense)
Identify and Correct Errors: Review the following sentences. Identify any incorrect 르 irregular conjugations and provide the correct form, explaining why it's correct.
- "친구가 노래를 부라요." (Chinguga noraereul burayo.)
- "이것은 저것하고 모릅니다." (Igeoseun jeogeot-hago moreumnida.)
- "숙제가 너무 많아서 피곤해." (Sukjega neomu manaseo pigonhae.) – Hint: 피곤하다 (to be tired) is not a 르 irregular.
- "물이 다 말랐어서 마실 것이 없어요." (Muri da mallasseoseo masil geosi eopseoyo.)
Sentence Creation (Modern Contexts): Create original sentences using 르 irregular verbs/adjectives in contemporary scenarios. Include romanization and English translations.
- Use 다르다 to describe opinions on a viral TikTok trend.
- Use 모르다 to explain why you can't help a friend with a coding problem.
- Use 고르다 to talk about choosing items from an online shopping app like Coupang.
- Use 빠르다 to comment on the speed of a new K-pop song's rise on charts.
Distinguishing 르 Irregular from ㅡ Dropping: Explain the difference between the conjugation of 모르다 and 쓰다 in the informal polite present tense. Highlight the specific changes that occur in each.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Why does Korean have so many irregular verbs?
- A: Irregular verbs often result from historical sound changes and phonetic tendencies in a language. Over time, certain sound combinations become difficult or unnatural to pronounce, leading to specific, non-standard changes to facilitate smoother articulation. The
르irregular, for instance, avoids the potentially awkwardㅡ어요sequence by introducing the liquidㄹsound.
- Q: Are there any verbs that end in
르but are not irregular? - A: Yes, the most prominent example is
따르다(ttareuda – to follow/pour). It conjugates like a regularㅡdropping verb. For따르다, you simply drop theㅡand add아(because the preceding syllable따containsㅏ), resulting in따라요(ttarayo), not딸라요. It's essential to recognize this exception.
- Q: Does the
르irregular rule apply to all르-ending words? - A: No, it applies specifically to verbs and adjectives (descriptive verbs). Nouns or other word classes ending in
르are not subject to this conjugation rule.
- Q: How can I tell if a
르-ending verb is irregular or regular (like따르다)? - A: Unfortunately, there isn't a simple phonetic rule to distinguish them upfront for learners. The best approach is through memorization and consistent exposure. High-frequency verbs like
모르다,빠르다,다르다,부르다,고르다,자르다,마르다,아프다,배부르다are almost always르irregular. When in doubt about a new르-ending verb, assume it's irregular unless you learn otherwise.
- Q: What happens if the syllable before
르is just one letter, like르다? - A: This scenario is rare for actual verbs/adjectives. Most
르irregulars have a preceding syllable. If such a theoretical verb existed, the rules ofㅡdropping andㄹduplication would still apply based on the vowel of the hypothetical preceding syllable, but this doesn't typically occur in common vocabulary.
- Q: Does
푸르다(pureuda – to be blue/green) follow this rule? - A:
푸르다is an interesting case. While it's a르ending descriptive verb, it's often cited as an exception to the르irregular vowel harmony rule. Instead of푸라요(ifㅗwas the only bright vowel criterion), it conjugates as푸르러요(pureureoyo). This makes it sometimes categorized as a러irregular, specifically because theㅜ(u) vowel in푸leads to러even thoughㅜis a dark vowel, demonstrating further phonetic nuances within Korean irregulars. For A2, focusing on the standard라/러distinction is sufficient, but this specific word is a common point of discussion for advanced learners.
- Q: Is the
ㄹduplication only relevant for pronunciation or also for writing? - A: Both. The
ㄹduplication (e.g.,몰라요,불러요) is a standard orthographic change, meaning it must be written correctly asㄹㄹ. It's not merely a pronunciation shortcut; it's a fundamental part of the verb's written form when conjugated irregularly. Incorrectly writing모라요instead of몰라요is a grammatical error, not just a pronunciation deviation.
르-Irregular Conjugation Table
| Verb | Meaning | Stem | Polite (해요) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
모르다
|
To not know
|
모르
|
몰라요
|
|
부르다
|
To call/sing
|
부르
|
불러요
|
|
빠르다
|
To be fast
|
빠르
|
빨라요
|
|
기르다
|
To raise/grow
|
기르
|
길러요
|
|
다르다
|
To be different
|
다르
|
달라요
|
|
흐르다
|
To flow
|
흐르
|
흘러요
|
Meanings
A specific conjugation pattern for verbs ending in '르' where the 'ㅡ' vowel is dropped and a double 'ㄹ' sound is created.
Standard Conjugation
Applying the rule to present tense polite forms.
“빠르다 -> 빨라요”
“부르다 -> 불러요”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + 라/러
|
몰라요
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Negative
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안 + Stem + 라/러
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안 몰라요
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Interrogative
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Stem + 라/러?
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몰라요?
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Past Tense
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Stem + 랐/렀어요
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몰랐어요
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Future Tense
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Stem + ㄹ 거예요
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모를 거예요
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Command
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Stem + 라/러요
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불러요
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Formality Spectrum
모릅니다. (General)
몰라요. (General)
몰라. (General)
몰라잉. (General)
The '르' Transformation
Vowel Before
- ㅏ/ㅗ Add -라요
- Other Add -러요
Examples by Level
저는 몰라요.
I don't know.
노래를 불러요.
I sing a song.
길이 빨라요.
The road is fast.
머리를 길러요.
I am growing my hair.
왜 몰라요?
Why don't you know?
친구가 노래를 불러요.
My friend is singing a song.
비행기가 빨라요.
The airplane is fast.
꽃을 길러요.
I am growing flowers.
그 사실을 몰랐어요.
I didn't know that fact.
이름을 불러주세요.
Please call my name.
인터넷이 정말 빨라요.
The internet is really fast.
강아지를 잘 길러요.
I raise the puppy well.
답을 몰라서 물어봤어요.
I didn't know the answer, so I asked.
가수를 불러서 공연해요.
We called a singer to perform.
일 처리가 빨라서 좋아요.
I like that the work processing is fast.
아이를 정성껏 길러요.
I raise the child with care.
아무것도 모르는 척하지 마세요.
Don't pretend you don't know anything.
이름을 크게 불러보세요.
Try calling the name loudly.
속도가 빨라야 해요.
The speed must be fast.
식물을 길러본 적이 없어요.
I have never tried growing plants.
그는 모든 것을 알고도 모르는 체했다.
He pretended not to know even though he knew everything.
그녀는 노래를 불러 분위기를 띄웠다.
She sang a song and lifted the mood.
변화가 빨라 적응하기 어렵다.
The change is fast, so it's hard to adapt.
그는 대대로 농사를 길러왔다.
He has been farming for generations.
Easily Confused
Both involve the letter ㄹ, but ㄹ-irregular involves the stem-final ㄹ disappearing.
Both involve stem changes, but ㄷ-irregular changes ㄷ to ㄹ.
Learners often apply the 르-irregular to all verbs ending in 르.
Common Mistakes
모르아요
몰라요
모라요
몰라요
부르아요
불러요
빠르아요
빨라요
다르아요
달라요
기르아요
길러요
흐르아요
흘러요
모르었어요
몰랐어요
부르었어요
불렀어요
빠르었어요
빨랐어요
모르는다
모른다
부르는다
부른다
빠르는다
빠르다
기르는다
기른다
Sentence Patterns
저는 ___를 몰라요.
친구가 노래를 ___.
인터넷이 너무 ___.
저는 꽃을 ___.
Real World Usage
몰라ㅋㅋ
인터넷 진짜 빨라!
잘 모르겠습니다.
이거 불러주세요.
길을 몰라요.
선생님, 몰라요.
The Vowel Check
Don't skip the batchim
Practice with '모르다'
Polite vs Informal
Smart Tips
Always check the preceding vowel first.
Focus on the double 'L' sound.
Double-check your spelling for the 'ㄹ' batchim.
Check if it ends in '르' in the dictionary.
Pronunciation
Double L
The double ㄹ is pronounced as a long, held 'L' sound.
Statement
몰라요 ↘
Neutral tone.
Question
몰라요 ↗
Inquisitive tone.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember '르' is a 'Liar'—it hides its true self and turns into a double 'L' (ㄹㄹ).
Visual Association
Imagine a '르' character wearing a mask. When the '아/어' suffix comes, the mask falls off, and two 'L' shaped legs appear underneath.
Rhyme
If the vowel is A or O, use LA, if not, use LE, the 르 is gone, the L is here to stay.
Story
A man named 'Reu' was very shy. Whenever he met the '아/어' family, he would hide his 'ㅡ' face and grow two 'L' legs to run away. Now everyone calls him 'L-L' because of his new legs.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down 5 sentences using different '르' verbs in the polite form within 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Using the correct irregular form is seen as a sign of basic fluency and respect for the language structure.
The rule is the same, but the vocabulary usage might differ slightly in formal contexts.
Fans often use the informal '몰라' when talking about idols or rumors.
The '르' irregular stems from historical vowel harmony patterns in Middle Korean.
Conversation Starters
길을 알아요?
노래를 불러줄 수 있어요?
인터넷이 빨라요?
강아지를 길러요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
저는 길을 ___.
노래를 ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
인터넷이 빠르아요.
기르다 -> ?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
몰라요 / 저는 / 길을
르-irregular verbs always drop the ㅡ vowel.
A: 길을 알아요? B: 아니요, ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises저는 길을 ___.
노래를 ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
인터넷이 빠르아요.
기르다 -> ?
흐르다
몰라요 / 저는 / 길을
르-irregular verbs always drop the ㅡ vowel.
A: 길을 알아요? B: 아니요, ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises어제 선물을 ___.
길을 / 몰라요 / 저는
Match the pairs
Identify the regular verb.
It is too fast.
맛이 ___ 안 먹어요.
저는 그 사실을 몰릅니다.
동생을 / 불러요 / 제가
Choose the ending for '고르-'.
I am raising a cat.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It's a phonological rule to make the word easier to say.
Only those ending in '르'.
These are very rare and usually not '르' irregulars.
Yes, but the formal '습니다' style doesn't use this rule.
Yes, but '모릅니다' is more formal.
Because of the double 'ㄹ' rule.
Check the vowel before '르'.
It takes practice, but it's very consistent.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Stem-changing verbs
Spanish changes the vowel; Korean changes the consonant structure.
Verb conjugation groups
French is suffix-based; Korean is stem-internal.
Strong verbs
German changes are often historical; Korean changes are phonological.
Godan verbs
Japanese is more predictable; Korean has specific irregular classes.
Weak verbs
Arabic is root-based; Korean is stem-based.
None
Chinese verbs never change form.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Related Grammar Rules
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