Korean has six main types of irregular verbs that change in predictable ways when conjugated. Understanding these patterns is crucial for proper conjugation.
What Makes a Verb Irregular?
Regular vs Irregular
Regular verbs: Follow standard conjugation rules
- 먹다 → 먹어요, 먹습니다, 먹었어요
Irregular verbs: Change in specific contexts
- 듣다 → 들어요 (ㄷ changes to ㄹ)
- 돕다 → 도와요 (ㅂ changes to 우)
The stem changes based on what ending follows
Six Main Irregular Types
Overview Table
| Type | Change | Example | When | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ㄹ | ㄹ drops | 만들다 → 만듭니다 | Before ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ | Easy |
| ㅂ | ㅂ → 우/오 | 돕다 → 도와요 | Before vowels | Medium |
| ㄷ | ㄷ → ㄹ | 듣다 → 들어요 | Before vowels | Easy |
| ㅅ | ㅅ drops | 짓다 → 지어요 | Before vowels | Easy |
| 으 | 으 drops | 쓰다 → 써요 | Before 아/어 | Medium |
| ㅎ | ㅎ drops/merges | 빨갛다 → 빨개요 | Before vowels | Hard |
1. ㄹ Irregular (르 불규칙)
Pattern: ㄹ Drops
Before: ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ endings ㄹ disappears from stem
Examples
만들다 (make):
- 만들어요 (ㄹ stays before vowel)
- 만듭니다 (ㄹ drops before ㅂ)
- 만드시다 (ㄹ drops before ㅅ)
살다 (live):
- 살아요 (ㄹ stays)
- 삽니다 (ㄹ drops)
Common ㄹ Irregular Verbs
- 만들다 (make)
- 살다 (live)
- 알다 (know)
- 팔다 (sell)
- 놀다 (play)
- 길다 (long)
- 멀다 (far)
See detailed article for full coverage
2. ㅂ Irregular (ㅂ 불규칙)
Pattern: ㅂ → 우/오
Before vowel endings:
- ㅂ changes to 우 (dark vowels) or 오 (some cases)
Examples
돕다 (help):
- 도와요 (ㅂ → 와)
- 돕습니다 (ㅂ stays before 습)
춥다 (cold):
- 추워요 (ㅂ → 워)
- 춥습니다 (ㅂ stays)
Common ㅂ Irregular Verbs
- 돕다 (help)
- 춥다 (cold)
- 덥다 (hot)
- 쉽다 (easy)
- 어렵다 (difficult)
- 가깝다 (close/near)
- 아름답다 (beautiful)
Many adjectives ending in ㅂ are irregular
3. ㄷ Irregular (ㄷ 불규칙)
Pattern: ㄷ → ㄹ
Before vowel endings:
- ㄷ changes to ㄹ
Examples
듣다 (listen):
- 들어요 (ㄷ → ㄹ before 어)
- 듣습니다 (ㄷ stays before 습)
걷다 (walk):
- 걸어요 (ㄷ → ㄹ)
- 걷습니다 (ㄷ stays)
Common ㄷ Irregular Verbs
- 듣다 (listen)
- 걷다 (walk)
- 묻다 (ask)
- 싣다 (load)
Note: Some ㄷ verbs are regular (받다, 믿다)
4. ㅅ Irregular (ㅅ 불규칙)
Pattern: ㅅ Drops
Before vowel endings:
- ㅅ disappears completely
Examples
짓다 (build):
- 지어요 (ㅅ drops before 어)
- 짓습니다 (ㅅ stays before 습)
낫다 (get better):
- 나아요 (ㅅ drops)
- 낫습니다 (ㅅ stays)
Common ㅅ Irregular Verbs
- 짓다 (build)
- 낫다 (get better)
- 붓다 (swell)
Rare: Not many verbs follow this pattern
5. 으 Irregular (으 불규칙)
Pattern: 으 Drops
Before 아/어 endings:
- 으 disappears from stem
Examples
쓰다 (write/use):
- 써요 (으 drops: 쓰 + 어 → 써)
- 씁니다 (으 stays before ㅂ)
크다 (big):
- 커요 (으 drops: 크 + 어 → 커)
- 큽니다 (으 stays)
Common 으 Irregular Verbs
- 쓰다 (write, use, bitter)
- 크다 (big)
- 슬프다 (sad)
- 예쁘다 (pretty)
- 바쁘다 (busy)
Pattern: Stem ends in 으
6. ㅎ Irregular (ㅎ 불규칙)
Pattern: ㅎ Drops or Merges
Before vowel endings:
- ㅎ disappears
- Adjacent sounds merge (ㅎ + ㅏ → ㅐ, ㅎ + ㅓ → ㅐ)
Examples
빨갛다 (red):
- 빨개요 (ㅎ + 아 → ㅐ)
- 빨갛습니다 (ㅎ stays)
하얗다 (white):
- 하얘요 (ㅎ + 아 → ㅐ)
- 하얗습니다 (ㅎ stays)
Common ㅎ Irregular Verbs
- 빨갛다 (red)
- 파랗다 (blue)
- 노랗다 (yellow)
- 하얗다 (white)
- 까맣다 (black)
- 그렇다 (so/like that)
- 어떻다 (how)
Mostly colors and demonstrative adjectives
How to Identify Irregulars
Check the Stem Ending
Stems ending in:
- ㄹ → Possibly ㄹ irregular
- ㅂ → Possibly ㅂ irregular
- ㄷ → Possibly ㄷ irregular
- ㅅ → Possibly ㅅ irregular
- 으 → Possibly 으 irregular
- ㅎ → Possibly ㅎ irregular
But Not All Are Irregular!
Regular verbs with same endings exist:
- 받다 (receive) → 받아요 (ㄷ is regular)
- 입다 (wear) → 입어요 (ㅂ is regular)
- 씻다 (wash) → 씻어요 (ㅅ is regular)
Must learn which specific verbs are irregular
When Irregularity Applies
Depends on Following Sound
ㄹ Irregular: Before ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ ㅂ Irregular: Before vowels (아/어/여) ㄷ Irregular: Before vowels ㅅ Irregular: Before vowels 으 Irregular: Before 아/어 ㅎ Irregular: Before vowels
Regular Before Consonants
Most irregulars are regular before consonant endings:
- 듣습니다 (ㄷ stays)
- 춥습니다 (ㅂ stays)
- 빨갛습니다 (ㅎ stays)
Common Regular Endings
No Irregularity With
-고 (and): All regular
- 먹고, 듣고, 춥고
-지만 (but): All regular
- 먹지만, 듣지만, 춥지만
-ㄴ/은 (modifier): Some irregular (ㄹ drops)
- 만드는 (ㄹ drops before ㄴ)
Learning Strategy
Start with Common Irregulars
Most important to learn first:
- ㄷ irregular: 듣다, 걷다
- ㅂ irregular: 돕다, 춥다, 어렵다
- ㄹ irregular: 만들다, 살다
- 으 irregular: 쓰다, 크다
Remember Exceptions
Some verbs look irregular but aren't:
- 입다 (wear) → 입어요 (ㅂ regular)
- 받다 (receive) → 받아요 (ㄷ regular)
- 씻다 (wash) → 씻어요 (ㅅ regular)
Use Dictionaries
Good dictionaries mark irregulars:
- Look for tags like "irreg." or "불규칙"
Quick Reference
When Stem Ends In...
ㄹ: Check if ㄹ drops before ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ ㅂ: Check if ㅂ → 우 before vowels ㄷ: Check if ㄷ → ㄹ before vowels ㅅ: Check if ㅅ drops before vowels 으: Check if 으 drops before 아/어 ㅎ: Check if ㅎ merges with vowels
If Regular
Just follow normal rules:
- 받다 → 받아요
- 입다 → 입어요
- 믿다 → 믿어요
Most Common Irregulars to Know
Essential List
ㄹ Irregular:
- 만들다, 살다, 알다
ㅂ Irregular:
- 춥다, 덥다, 어렵다, 쉽다, 돕다
ㄷ Irregular:
- 듣다, 걷다, 묻다
ㅅ Irregular:
- 짓다, 낫다
으 Irregular:
- 쓰다, 크다, 예쁘다
ㅎ Irregular:
- 그렇다, 어떻다, 빨갛다
Practice Recognition
Identify the Type
만들다: ㄹ irregular 춥다: ㅂ irregular 듣다: ㄷ irregular 쓰다: 으 irregular 빨갛다: ㅎ irregular
Conjugate Correctly
듣다 + 어요: 들어요 (ㄷ → ㄹ) 춥다 + 어요: 추워요 (ㅂ → 워) 만들다 + ㅂ니다: 만듭니다 (ㄹ drops)
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Applying Irregularity Always
Wrong: 듣습니다 → 들습니다 Right: 듣습니다 (ㄷ stays before 습)
Irregularity only applies in specific contexts
Mistake 2: Treating All Similar Stems Same
Wrong: 받다 → 받어요 is ㄷ irregular Right: 받다 → 받아요 (ㄷ regular verb)
Not all verbs with same ending are irregular
Mistake 3: Forgetting Which Type
Study: Each irregular verb individually Practice: With different endings
Mistake 4: Irregular Before Consonants
Wrong: 듣고 → 들고 Right: 듣고 (regular before 고)
Most irregulars only apply before vowels or specific consonants
Key Points
- ✅ Six types: ㄹ, ㅂ, ㄷ, ㅅ, 으, ㅎ irregulars
- ✅ Context-dependent: Only irregular in specific situations
- ✅ Not all verbs: With same stem ending are irregular
- ✅ Learn common ones: Focus on frequently used verbs
- ✅ Before consonants: Often regular
- ✅ Before vowels: Most irregularities occur
- ✅ Predictable: Once you know the verb, pattern is consistent
- ✅ Essential: For natural Korean conjugation
Understanding irregular verbs takes time and practice. Start with the most common verbs in each category, and gradually expand your knowledge. Each type has its own article with detailed explanations and examples.