Top 10 Irregular Korean Verbs and How to Use Them

byThe Tidy Life Project • • 2 min read
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Korean irregular verbs might seem like tricky rule-breakers at first, but once you get the hang of their patterns, you’ll see they’re not so intimidating. These verbs are everywhere in Korean speech, especially in casual conversations, texts, and even K-dramas!

Top 10 Irregular

In this guide, we’ll cover the top 10 most frequently used irregular verbs, how their stems behave, and how to conjugate them confidently. Whether you're a beginner or reviewing, this is the perfect place to master Korean verb quirks with ease.

 

As someone who used to confuse “λ“£λ‹€” and “묻닀,” I’ve found that learning them in categorized chunks (like γ„·, γ…‚, γ…… irregulars) made everything clearer and more manageable. Let's explore them together now! πŸŽ‰

🧬 Understanding Irregular Verbs

Korean irregular verbs are verbs that change their stem spelling when combined with certain endings. Unlike regular verbs that maintain a stable stem when conjugated, irregular verbs often undergo predictable yet surprising transformations depending on the consonant at the end of their stem.

 

These spelling changes aren’t random! They follow specific patterns that involve certain consonants like γ„·, γ…‚, γ……, γ…Ž, λ₯΄, and others. Once you recognize these, irregular verbs actually become quite easy to handle.

 

Let’s break it down: the verb λ“£λ‹€ (to listen) ends in γ„·. But when it meets a vowel-ending like -μ–΄μš”, the γ„· changes to γ„Ή, becoming λ“€μ–΄μš”. Similarly, the verb 돕닀 (to help), ending in γ…‚, shifts to λ„μ™€μš”, where the γ…‚ morphs into a 우 sound that merges with μ•„μš”.

 

While these changes may seem unusual, they're based on phonetic harmony and pronunciation rules in Korean. The alterations make speaking easier and smoother, especially when combining stems with endings that begin in vowels.

 

One important thing to remember: not all verbs ending in γ„· or γ…‚ are irregular. For instance, λ‹«λ‹€ (to close) ends in γ„·, but it’s regular—λ‹«μ•„μš”. That’s why memorizing which verbs are irregular is part of mastering Korean.

 

Thankfully, irregulars make up a relatively small percentage of Korean verbs. But because they’re so commonly used in conversation, it’s vital to learn the top 10 right away. This gives you fluency and confidence in your daily Korean.

 

In this section, we’ll explore the why behind these spelling shifts. And in the next, we’ll zoom in on each irregular pattern and see examples that will stick in your memory! πŸ’‘

 

πŸ” Irregular Verb Change Overview

Irregular Type Example Verb Change Present Tense Meaning
γ„· → γ„Ή λ“£λ‹€ λ“£ → λ“€ λ“€μ–΄μš” to listen
γ…‚ → 우/였 돕닀 돕 → λ„μš° λ„μ™€μš” to help
λ₯΄ duplication λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€ λ₯΄ → ㄹ라/γ„ΉλŸ¬ λͺ°λΌμš” to not know
γ…Ž drop ν•˜μ–—λ‹€ γ…Ž disappears ν•˜μ–˜μš” to be white

 

πŸŒ€ Common Irregular Patterns

Korean irregular verbs may seem unpredictable at first, but they actually follow specific transformation patterns based on their final consonant. Once you understand the core logic behind each irregular type, you'll start spotting them easily in conversation and writing.

 

Let’s go over the most common types: γ„·, γ…‚, γ……, γ…Ž, λ₯΄, and sometimes γ„Ή. Each of these patterns has a unique behavior when paired with vowel-starting endings like -μ•„/μ–΄μš”, -μ•„/μ–΄μ•Ό λΌμš”, or -μ•˜/μ—ˆμ–΄μš”.

 

πŸ”Ή γ„· → γ„Ή Irregulars: If a verb stem ends in γ„· and the following syllable begins with a vowel, γ„· changes to γ„Ή. For example, λ“£λ‹€ → λ“€μ–΄μš” (to listen). But λ‹«λ‹€ (to close) is regular—λ‹«μ•„μš”—because it's not in the irregular list.

 

πŸ”Ή γ…‚ → 우/였 Irregulars: These verbs change the γ…‚ into 우 or 였 when followed by a vowel. For example, 돕닀 → λ„μ™€μš” (to help), and κ΅½λ‹€ → κ΅¬μ›Œμš” (to grill). However, μž…λ‹€ (to wear) is regular and becomes μž…μ–΄μš”, with no change.

 

πŸ”Ή λ₯΄ Irregulars: When a verb ends in λ₯΄ and meets a vowel-starting ending, one more γ„Ή is inserted before the ending. Example: λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€ → λͺ°λΌμš” (I don’t know). The stem effectively gains a γ„Ή before conjugation.

 

πŸ”Ή γ…Ž Irregulars: Adjectives like ν•˜μ–—λ‹€ (white), λΉ¨κ°›λ‹€ (red), or κ·Έλ ‡λ‹€ (like that) lose their γ…Ž when followed by vowel-based endings. ν•˜μ–—λ‹€ becomes ν•˜μ–˜μš”. It smooths pronunciation in fast speech.

 

πŸ”Ή γ…… Irregulars: In certain verbs, the final γ…… is dropped before a vowel. For instance, λ‚«λ‹€ (to heal) becomes λ‚˜μ•„μš”, and 짓닀 (to build) becomes μ§€μ–΄μš”. But not all γ…… verbs are irregular—λ²—λ‹€ (to take off) is regular: λ²—μ–΄μš”.

 

πŸ”Ή λ₯΄ + vowel + ending is one of the most commonly misused irregulars, so take your time with them. The extra γ„Ή insertion seems odd at first, but becomes natural as you practice.

 

Let’s organize these irregular changes in a clean table so you can quickly reference and review them anytime! πŸ—‚️

🧩 Korean Irregular Pattern Summary

Irregular Type Rule Example Conjugated Form
γ„· → γ„Ή Change γ„· to γ„Ή before vowels λ“£λ‹€ λ“€μ–΄μš”
γ…‚ → 우/였 Change γ…‚ to 우/였 before vowels 돕닀 λ„μ™€μš”
λ₯΄ Duplication Insert γ„Ή + ending λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€ λͺ°λΌμš”
γ…Ž Drop Remove γ…Ž when followed by vowel ν•˜μ–—λ‹€ ν•˜μ–˜μš”
γ…… Drop Drop γ…… before vowel endings 짓닀 μ§€μ–΄μš”

πŸ† Top 10 Irregular Korean Verbs

Ready to meet the most essential irregular verbs in Korean? These top 10 verbs appear in everyday conversation, media, and writing. Whether you're chatting with friends or watching a K-drama, you're almost guaranteed to run into these verbs.

 

We’ll break down each verb: the irregular pattern it follows, how it changes in the present tense, and an example sentence. This will help you build not just recognition but also usage confidence.

 

Some of these might already be familiar—like “λ“£λ‹€” or “돕닀.” Others may surprise you, especially if you’ve seen their present forms before and didn’t realize they came from irregular roots.

 

As you study each one, try repeating it aloud and plugging it into your own sentence. That’s the fastest way to get these sticky patterns to feel natural. Let’s go! πŸ’ͺ

 

πŸ”Ÿ Irregular Verb Breakdown

Base Verb Pattern Present Tense Meaning Example
λ“£λ‹€ γ„· → γ„Ή λ“€μ–΄μš” to listen μŒμ•…μ„ λ“€μ–΄μš” (I listen to music)
돕닀 γ…‚ → 였 λ„μ™€μš” to help 친ꡬλ₯Ό λ„μ™€μš” (I help my friend)
λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€ λ₯΄ duplication λͺ°λΌμš” to not know μ €λŠ” λͺ°λΌμš” (I don’t know)
κ±·λ‹€ γ„· → γ„Ή κ±Έμ–΄μš” to walk 곡원을 κ±Έμ–΄μš” (I walk in the park)
짓닀 γ…… drop μ§€μ–΄μš” to build 집을 μ§€μ–΄μš” (I build a house)
λΉ λ₯΄λ‹€ λ₯΄ duplication λΉ¨λΌμš” to be fast κ·Έ μ°¨λŠ” λΉ¨λΌμš” (That car is fast)
λˆ•λ‹€ γ…‚ → 우 λˆ„μ›Œμš” to lie down μΉ¨λŒ€μ— λˆ„μ›Œμš” (I lie down on the bed)
ν•˜μ–—λ‹€ γ…Ž drop ν•˜μ–˜μš” to be white 눈이 ν•˜μ–˜μš” (The snow is white)
λ‚«λ‹€ γ…… drop λ‚˜μ•„μš” to recover 감기가 λ‚˜μ•„μš” (The cold gets better)
λΆ€λ₯΄λ‹€ λ₯΄ duplication λΆˆλŸ¬μš” to call 이름을 λΆˆλŸ¬μš” (I call your name)

 

πŸ—£️ How to Use Them in Sentences

Learning the present tense forms of irregular verbs is great—but knowing how to actually use them in a sentence? That’s where fluency begins. In this section, we’ll take the Top 10 irregular verbs you just learned and show you how to use each one in natural, everyday Korean phrases.

 

We’ll present each verb with a simple, realistic sentence you might say or hear in Korea. These are beginner-friendly examples, but they reflect real conversation tone and grammar you’ll encounter in everyday life—so they’re super practical! 😊

 

As always, try reading the Korean out loud. Match it with the English meaning, and then try replacing nouns to personalize the sentence. That way, you make the grammar yours.

 

Let’s get to it! ✨ Below is a breakdown of the 10 irregular verbs from the previous section, each one paired with a practical Korean sentence you can memorize and adapt for your own use.

 

🧾 Irregular Verbs in Natural Sentences

Verb Korean Sentence English Translation
λ“£λ‹€ μ €λŠ” μŒμ•…μ„ 자주 λ“€μ–΄μš” I often listen to music
돕닀 μ €λŠ” 친ꡬλ₯Ό λ„μ™€μš” I help my friend
λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€ μ €λŠ” κ·Έ 문제λ₯Ό λͺ°λΌμš” I don’t know that question
κ±·λ‹€ 맀일 μ•„μΉ¨ 곡원을 κ±Έμ–΄μš” I walk in the park every morning
짓닀 μš°λ¦¬λŠ” 집을 μ§€μ–΄μš” We build a house
λΉ λ₯΄λ‹€ κ·Έ κΈ°μ°¨λŠ” 정말 λΉ¨λΌμš” That train is really fast
λˆ•λ‹€ μ €λŠ” ν”Όκ³€ν•΄μ„œ μΉ¨λŒ€μ— λˆ„μ›Œμš” I’m tired so I lie down on the bed
ν•˜μ–—λ‹€ 였늘 ν•˜λŠ˜μ΄ ν•˜μ–˜μš” The sky is white today
λ‚«λ‹€ 감기가 많이 λ‚˜μ•˜μ–΄μš” My cold got much better
λΆ€λ₯΄λ‹€ κ·ΈλŠ” 제 이름을 λΆˆλŸ¬μš” He calls my name

 

πŸ’¬ Try replacing subjects or objects in these examples with your own words. The structure stays the same, so you can build dozens of new sentences with just a few changes.

⚖️ Regular vs. Irregular Recap

Now that you've seen how irregular verbs work in real sentences, it’s helpful to step back and compare them directly with regular verbs. This contrast will sharpen your understanding and help you avoid mix-ups when speaking or writing Korean.

 

Regular verbs follow predictable conjugation rules. You remove “λ‹€” and add the appropriate ending—“-μ•„μš”” for bright vowels (ㅏ, γ…—) and “-μ–΄μš”” for others. The stem itself doesn’t change. That’s the key difference.

 

Irregular verbs, on the other hand, adjust the final consonant of the stem before adding an ending. These modifications happen only in specific phonetic environments—usually when the ending begins with a vowel sound.

 

Let’s use a few side-by-side examples to make it clear. The regular verb κ°€λ‹€ (to go) becomes κ°€μš”. No change in the stem. But the irregular verb λ“£λ‹€ (to listen) becomes λ“€μ–΄μš”, where γ„· changes to γ„Ή before the -μ–΄μš” ending.

 

Another: λ¨Ήλ‹€ (to eat) is regular → λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”. 돕닀 (to help) is irregular → λ„μ™€μš”, where γ…‚ changes to 였. This small but crucial change is what makes these verbs feel “special” in Korean grammar.

 

If you're ever unsure, try checking a Korean dictionary for the present tense form. Seeing how native speakers conjugate it is often the best clue. Over time, your brain will automatically recognize these patterns.

 

Let’s wrap this section with a side-by-side comparison table. Keep it handy for quick review when studying or writing in Korean! πŸ“˜

πŸ†š Regular vs. Irregular Verb Table

Verb Type Base Verb Conjugated Form Change Meaning
Regular κ°€λ‹€ κ°€μš” No change to go
Irregular (γ„·) λ“£λ‹€ λ“€μ–΄μš” γ„· → γ„Ή to listen
Regular λ¨Ήλ‹€ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš” No change to eat
Irregular (γ…‚) 돕닀 λ„μ™€μš” γ…‚ → 였 to help

 

πŸ“š Practice Tips and Exercises

So you've learned the rules, seen the examples, and compared regular vs. irregular verbs—now it’s time to practice! Without consistent repetition and review, even the best grammar knowledge can fade quickly. Let’s go over some practical, fun, and effective ways to lock these irregular verbs into long-term memory. πŸ”’

 

First, flashcards are still your best friend. Make your own cards with the base verb on one side and the conjugated form on the other. Add a sample sentence for bonus points! Digital apps like Anki or Quizlet let you quiz yourself daily with spaced repetition.

 

Second, write a “Verb of the Day” journal. Each day, choose one irregular verb, conjugate it, and write 3–5 different sentences using it. This kind of focused practice builds both grammar and vocabulary at the same time.

 

Third, say verbs out loud in different tenses. For example, with “돕닀”: λ„μ™€μš” (present), λ„μ™”μ–΄μš” (past), λ„μšΈ κ±°μ˜ˆμš” (future). This vocal muscle memory helps you access the right forms quicker in real conversations.

 

Fourth, do “verb swaps” in real conversations. Instead of always saying “κ°€μš”” (go), try saying “κ±Έμ–΄μš”” (walk), or replace “μ•Œμ•„μš”” (know) with “λͺ°λΌμš”” (don’t know). The goal is to stretch your grammar muscles and explore variety!

 

Fifth, listen for irregular verbs in Korean media. K-dramas, variety shows, and songs are full of them. Every time you hear an irregular verb, pause and repeat it. Try writing it down with the original infinitive form.

 

Sixth, test yourself with fill-in-the-blank exercises. Create your own or download worksheets from Korean grammar websites. The act of “picking the right form” is great for reinforcing verb patterns.

 

Lastly, teach someone else. If you can explain why λ“£λ‹€ becomes λ“€μ–΄μš” to a friend, you're not just remembering it—you’ve mastered it. Teaching is one of the most powerful ways to retain information. πŸ’‘

 

✅ Practice Methods Recap

Method What to Do Why It Works
Flashcards Write verbs and their conjugations Boosts recognition + repetition
Journal Use 1 verb per day in multiple sentences Improves output & sentence building
Speaking Say verbs in different tenses Strengthens fluency + memory
Listening Find verbs in K-dramas or songs Connects grammar to real life
Teaching Explain conjugations to someone Solidifies long-term understanding

❓ FAQ

Q1. How do I know if a Korean verb is irregular?

 

A1. Irregular verbs usually change their final consonant (like γ„· → γ„Ή or γ…‚ → 우) when followed by a vowel. You can spot them by learning the most common ones. Korean dictionaries often show the conjugated form, which helps verify if a verb is irregular.

 

Q2. Are irregular verbs used often in Korean?

 

A2. Yes! Many everyday verbs like λ“£λ‹€ (to listen), 돕닀 (to help), and λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€ (to not know) are irregular. You’ll encounter them frequently in conversation, media, and reading, so it’s worth mastering them early.

 

Q3. Are irregular rules the same for past and future tense?

 

A3. Generally yes. Once a verb is irregular, the change affects other tenses too. For example, λ“£λ‹€ becomes λ“€μ—ˆμ–΄μš” (past), and 듀을 κ±°μ˜ˆμš” (future). The irregular form stays consistent across tenses.

 

Q4. Do all verbs ending in γ„· or γ…‚ follow irregular rules?

 

A4. No. Not all γ„· or γ…‚-ending verbs are irregular. For example, λ‹«λ‹€ (to close) and μž…λ‹€ (to wear) are regular. Memorization and practice are key—there’s no shortcut, but patterns help!

 

Q5. Can irregular verbs appear in polite and casual speech?

 

A5. Absolutely. Irregular verbs can be conjugated in both μ‘΄λŒ“λ§ (polite speech) and 반말 (casual speech). For example: λ“€μ–΄μš” (polite) vs. λ“€μ–΄ (casual), λ„μ™€μš” vs. 도와. The irregular stem remains the same.

 

Q6. What’s the easiest irregular verb to start with?

 

A6. Start with λ“£λ‹€ (to listen) or λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€ (to not know). They’re used often and follow clean, easy-to-learn rules. Once you’re comfortable with a few, others become easier to spot and remember.

 

Q7. How many irregular verb types are there?

 

A7. There are about 6 major irregular types: γ„·, γ…‚, γ……, γ…Ž, λ₯΄, and γ„Ή (in certain conditions). Each follows consistent spelling rules and affects verb conjugation when a vowel-based ending is added.

 

Q8. Should I learn irregular verbs before regular ones?

 

A8. No—start with regular verbs to build confidence. Once you’re comfortable with basic conjugation, you can start adding irregulars. Their frequency in Korean means you’ll run into them quickly anyway!

 

⚠️ Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional Korean language instruction. Accuracy has been prioritized, but learners should double-check with native speakers or certified resources when in doubt.

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