아요/어요-Form

The 아요/어요-Form is one of the most used forms in the Korean language. It's used to talk politely, for example when you talk to someone on the street or in a supermarket. It's not used to speak to close friends.

Also called:
요-Form, Yo-Form, Ayo/Eoyo-Form

⏰ When to use the 아요/어요-Form?

1) Informal polite present tense.

To end a sentence casually and politely in present tense.

For example:
먹어요 = eat (polite)
사라요 = live (polite)

🤷‍♀️ How to build the 아요/어요-Form?

1. Drop the -다 of the dictionary-form and look at the remaining word-stem.
   (e.g.: for 가다 or 보다 you'll get 가- or 보- )

• Look at the last syllable of the word-stem.
  (e.g. ㅏ, ㅗ)
• If the last syllable...
  • is ㅏ, simply add -요.
    (e.g. 가다 -> 가요)
  • is ㅗ, add ㅏ요 and combine it to ㅘ요
(e.g. 보다 -> 봐요)
  • is a consonant or another vowel, add -ㅓ요.
    (e.g. 먹다 -> 먹어요)
  • if it's a -하다-Verb, add -해요.
    (e.g.: 말하다 -> 말해요)

💎 Examples for the 아요/어요-Form

"밥을 먹어요"
= (I) eat rice.

"서울에서 살아요"
= (I) live in Seoul.

🎮 Time to practice!

As soon as you are confident with the 아요/어요-Form, try out the quizzes below.