A2 verb 2 min read

들르다

To stop by a place briefly while you are on your way somewhere else.

Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use 들르다 when you go to a place for a short time. You are on your way to another place. For example, you stop at a shop to buy water. Then you go home. It is a short visit.

When you are traveling, you might 들르다 at a friend's house. You don't stay long. You just say hello and then keep going to your main destination. It is very useful for daily plans.

Intermediate learners use 들르다 to describe errands. It is common to say '집에 가는 길에 편의점에 들를 거예요' (I will stop by the convenience store on the way home). It shows you have a plan that includes a small detour.

At this level, you understand the nuance of 들르다 as a 'brief' action. It implies the visit is secondary to your main goal. It is often used to explain why you might be late or why you have an extra bag.

Advanced speakers use 들르다 to manage expectations in social or professional contexts. By saying you will 'stop by,' you signal that your presence is temporary. It is a polite way to frame a visit as an incidental part of a larger schedule.

In literary or formal contexts, 들르다 can describe a fleeting moment of connection. It captures the essence of human movement through space—brief encounters that punctuate a journey. Its irregular conjugation remains a hallmark of natural, native-level fluency.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • It means to stop by.
  • It is a native Korean verb.
  • It is irregular.
  • Used for brief visits.

The Korean verb 들르다 is a super useful word for your daily life. It specifically means to stop by or drop in somewhere for a short time.

Think of it as a detour. You aren't going to that place to stay all day; you are just popping in while you are already out and about. It is the perfect word for errands like grabbing coffee or picking up a package.

The etymology of 들르다 is rooted in native Korean. Historically, it is linked to the concept of entering or touching upon a space. Unlike Sino-Korean words, this verb has a very natural, indigenous feel to it.

Over centuries, it has maintained its core meaning of a brief physical entry. It is a classic example of how Korean verbs evolved to describe specific human movements and spatial interactions in everyday life.

You use 들르다 when you are heading somewhere else. It is very common to say 'place-에 들르다' (to stop by a place).

It is used in both casual and formal settings. Whether you are telling a friend you'll stop by their house or telling a boss you need to stop by the bank, this word fits perfectly.

While 들르다 is a functional verb, it appears in many expressions. 1. 잠깐 들르다: To stop by for a moment. 2. 오는 길에 들르다: To stop by on the way. 3. 들렀다 가다: To stop by and then leave. 4. 꼭 들르다: To make a point of stopping by. 5. 어디 들를 데 있어?: Do you have somewhere to stop by?

Grammatically, 들르다 is an irregular verb. When you conjugate it, the 'ㅡ' vowel often drops or changes. For example, in the past tense, it becomes 들렀다.

Pronunciation-wise, ensure you emphasize the 'deul' sound. It rhymes loosely with words like 'heul-da' (to flow) in terms of the vowel structure, though the meaning is entirely different.

Fun Fact

It is a native Korean verb.

Pronunciation Guide

UK N/A

N/A

US N/A

N/A

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing the 'ㅡ' vowel
  • Adding an extra sound
  • Wrong stress

Rhymes With

흐르다 치르다 기르다 다르다 모르다

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Easy

Writing 1/5

Easy

Speaking 1/5

Easy

Listening 1/5

Easy

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

가다 오다

Learn Next

방문하다

Advanced

경유하다

Grammar to Know

Irregular verbs

들르다 -> 들러

Examples by Level

1

학교에 들러요.

Stop by school.

Basic present tense.

1

집에 가는 길에 들러요.

2

잠깐 들를게요.

3

우체국에 들러야 해요.

4

친구 집에 들렀어요.

5

도서관에 들러서 책을 빌려요.

6

병원에 들러요.

7

마트에 들러서 우유 사요.

8

카페에 들러요.

1

내일 회사에 들를 수 있어요?

2

오는 길에 약국에 들러주세요.

3

잠시 들러서 인사만 할게요.

4

어제 서점에 들렀다가 왔어요.

5

공항에 들러서 친구를 태울 거예요.

6

은행에 들러서 돈을 찾아요.

7

집 근처에 들러서 밥 먹어요.

8

사무실에 들러서 서류 가져올게요.

1

바쁘지만 잠깐 들를 시간이 있어요.

2

어디 들를 데가 있어서 조금 늦어요.

3

공연 보러 가기 전에 저녁 먹으러 들를까요?

4

그곳에 들러야 할 이유가 있어요.

5

잠깐 들러서 확인만 하고 갈게요.

6

여행 중에 유명한 명소에 들렀어요.

7

돌아오는 길에 꼭 들르세요.

8

약속 장소에 가기 전에 잠깐 들러요.

1

그는 회의에 참석하기 전 본사에 들렀다.

2

귀갓길에 서점에 들르는 것이 습관이 되었다.

3

잠시 들러서 안부라도 묻고 싶었다.

4

예상치 못한 곳에 들르게 되었다.

5

그는 매일 아침 카페에 들러 커피를 산다.

6

출장 중에 거래처에 들러야 한다.

7

일정을 조정해서 잠깐 들르겠습니다.

8

마을에 들러서 잠시 쉬어 가기로 했다.

1

그는 자신의 고향에 들러 어린 시절을 회상했다.

2

오랜만에 모교에 들러 옛 스승을 뵈었다.

3

그는 목적지로 향하는 도중 우연히 그곳에 들렀다.

4

잠시 들러서 차 한 잔 나누는 여유가 필요하다.

5

그는 매번 이 길을 지날 때마다 그 식당에 들른다.

6

지친 몸을 이끌고 잠시 쉼터에 들렀다.

7

중요한 일을 마치고 집에 들르는 길이다.

8

낯선 도시에서 잠시 들른 서점이 인상적이었다.

Common Collocations

길에 들르다

Idioms & Expressions

"잠깐 들르다"

Stop by briefly

잠깐 들러서 보고 갈게요.

casual

Easily Confused

들르다 vs 들리다

Spelling

To be heard vs to stop by

소리가 들리다 vs 가게에 들르다

Sentence Patterns

A1

Place + 에 + 들르다

학교에 들러요.

Word Family

Nouns

방문 visit

Related

가다 go

How to Use It

frequency

10

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral Casual

Common Mistakes

들리다 → 들르다
People confuse the spelling with 'to be heard'.

Tips

💡

Memory Trick

Think of 'Drop' in.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'dropping' in.

Visual Association

A car pulling over.

Word Web

travel visit errand

Challenge

Use it today.

Word Origin

Korean

Original meaning: To enter briefly

Cultural Context

None

Similar to 'stop by'.

Korean dramas often use this for meeting friends.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Shopping

  • 상점에 들르다

Conversation Starters

"오늘 어디 들를 데 있어요?"

Journal Prompts

어제 어디에 들렀나요?

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

It is 들르다.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

집에 가는 길에 마트에 ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 들러요

Correct verb for stopping by.

Score: /1

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

立ち寄る Japanese
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