하고, 랑, and 이랑 are casual particles used to connect nouns, meaning "and" or "with."
Three Forms
하고 (Standard Casual)
Most neutral casual form:
- 사과하고 배 (apples and pears)
- 친구하고 (with friend)
- Works after any noun
랑 (Very Casual - After Vowel)
After vowel-ending nouns:
- 나랑 (with me)
- 커피랑 (coffee and)
- 바나나랑 (bananas and)
이랑 (Very Casual - After Consonant)
After consonant-ending nouns:
- 친구랑 (with friend)
- 책이랑 (books and)
- 물이랑 (water and)
Formation Rules
하고
Universal - works with all nouns:
- Vowel: 커피하고, 나하고
- Consonant: 책하고, 친구하고
- Most versatile form
랑/이랑
Choose based on final sound:
After vowel → 랑:
- 나랑, 커피랑, 바나나랑
After consonant → 이랑:
- 책이랑, 친구랑, 물이랑
Core Meanings
1. "And" (Listing Nouns)
Connecting two or more nouns:
- 사과하고 배 (apples and pears)
- 커피랑 빵 (coffee and bread)
- 책이랑 펜 (books and pens)
2. "With" (Accompaniment)
Doing something together with someone:
- 친구하고 갔어요 (went with friend)
- 엄마랑 쇼핑했어요 (shopped with mom)
- 선생님이랑 이야기했어요 (talked with teacher)
Usage Contexts
Listing Things
Connecting multiple nouns:
- 사과, 바나나, 포도를 샀어요 → 사과랑 바나나랑 포도를 샀어요 (I bought apples, bananas, and grapes)
Accompaniment
Who you're with:
- 누구하고 갔어요? (Who did you go with?)
- 친구랑 영화 봤어요 (Watched a movie with friend)
- 가족이랑 여행했어요 (Traveled with family)
Comparisons
Comparing items:
- 이거하고 저거 (this and that)
- A하고 B 중에 뭐가 더 좋아요? (Between A and B, which is better?)
하고 vs 랑/이랑
Formality Level
하고:
- Casual but not too informal
- Safe for most situations
- Standard casual form
랑/이랑:
- More casual/colloquial
- Common in speech
- Very natural among friends
Geographic Usage
하고:
- Used throughout Korea
- Standard casual connector
랑/이랑:
- More common in Seoul/central Korea
- Very conversational
Politeness Levels
하고 (Standard Casual)
Appropriate in most casual contexts:
- 친구하고 갔어요 (went with friend)
- Can use with polite 해요 endings
랑/이랑 (Very Casual)
Best with close relationships:
- 친구랑 갔어 (went with friend)
- More intimate feeling
Formal Alternative: 와/과
For formal writing/speech:
- 사과와 배 (apples and pears - formal)
- 선생님과 학생 (teacher and student - formal)
Common Patterns
Noun + 하고/랑/이랑 + Noun
Two items:
- 커피하고 빵 (coffee and bread)
- 책이랑 펜 (book and pen)
- 나랑 너 (me and you)
Multiple Items
Three or more:
- 사과랑 배랑 포도 (apples, pears, and grapes)
- 책이랑 펜이랑 공책 (book, pen, and notebook)
Person + 하고/랑/이랑
With someone:
- 친구하고 (with friend)
- 엄마랑 (with mom)
- 선생님이랑 (with teacher)
Question Forms
누구하고/랑/이랑?
Who with?:
- 누구하고 갔어요? (Who did you go with?)
- 누구랑 만났어요? (Who did you meet with?)
뭐하고/랑/이랑?
What and?:
- 뭐하고 먹었어요? (What did you eat with [what]?)
- 뭐랑 살 거예요? (What will you buy with [what]?)
Common Expressions
With People
- 친구하고 (with friend)
- 가족이랑 (with family)
- 선생님이랑 (with teacher)
- 엄마랑 (with mom)
- 동생이랑 (with younger sibling)
Food Combinations
- 커피랑 빵 (coffee and bread)
- 밥이랑 김치 (rice and kimchi)
- 치킨이랑 맥주 (chicken and beer)
Things
- 책이랑 펜 (book and pen)
- 핸드폰이랑 지갑 (phone and wallet)
Multiple Connectors
Listing Several Items
Can repeat connector:
- 사과랑 배랑 포도랑 바나나 (apples, pears, grapes, and bananas)
Last item usually no connector:
- 사과랑 배랑 포도 (apples, pears, and grapes)
Negative Forms
안 + Verb (with 하고/랑/이랑)
- 친구하고 안 갔어요 (didn't go with friend)
- 엄마랑 안 만났어요 (didn't meet with mom)
Special Patterns
하고 싶다 (Want to)
Different pattern!:
- 가고 싶어요 (want to go)
- Not related to 하고 (and/with)
N하고 N 사이 (Between N and N)
- 너하고 나 사이 (between you and me)
- 학교하고 집 사이 (between school and home)
Regional Variations
Seoul/Central
랑/이랑 very common:
- 나랑 가자 (let's go with me)
- Natural in conversation
Some Regions
하고 preferred:
- More standard across Korea
Formal Contexts
와/과:
- 한국과 일본 (Korea and Japan)
- Used in news, formal writing
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 친구이하고
Wrong particle after consonant
✅ Correct: 친구하고 OR 친구랑
Use 하고 or 랑 (not 이하고)
❌ Incorrect: 나이랑
Wrong form after vowel
✅ Correct: 나랑 OR 나하고
Use 랑 after vowel, not 이랑
하고/랑/이랑 vs -고
하고/랑/이랑 (Nouns Only)
Connects nouns:
- 사과랑 배 (apples and pears)
- Only for nouns
-고 (Verbs/Adjectives)
Connects verbs/adjectives:
- 예쁘고 착해요 (pretty and kind)
- 먹고 자요 (eat and sleep)
Different functions, don't confuse!
Summary Table
| Form | After | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하고 | Any noun | 친구하고 | with friend / and friend |
| 랑 | Vowel | 나랑 | with me / and me |
| 이랑 | Consonant | 책이랑 | with book / and book |
| Listing | Multiple | 사과랑 배 | apples and pears |
| With person | Person + | 친구랑 갔어요 | went with friend |