Polite Ending -아/어요 in Korean

Overview

The polite ending -아/어요 (해요체, haeyo-che) is the most commonly used speech level in Korean and a core CEFR A1 concept. It is appropriate for most everyday interactions: speaking with strangers, colleagues, acquaintances, and anyone you are not extremely close to or in a highly formal situation with.

The conjugation follows vowel harmony: if the last vowel in the stem is ㅏ or ㅗ, add -아요; for all other vowels, add -어요. The 하다 verbs follow a special contraction: 하 + 여요 → 해요. Various vowel contractions occur naturally, making some conjugations look different from what the rule might suggest.

This speech level is your default as a Korean learner. It is polite without being stiff, casual without being rude. Mastering it opens the door to forming statements, questions, suggestions, and commands in everyday Korean.

How It Works

Conjugation Rules

Stem ending	Add	Result
ㅏ or ㅗ vowel	-아요	가- → 가요 (가+아요 contracts)
Other vowels	-어요	먹- → 먹어요
하-	-여요 → 해요	하- → 해요

Common Contractions

Stem	+ Ending	Result	Explanation
가-	+ 아요	가요	ㅏ+ㅏ → ㅏ
오-	+ 아요	와요	ㅗ+ㅏ → ㅘ
서-	+ 어요	서요	ㅓ+ㅓ → ㅓ
마시-	+ 어요	마셔요	ㅣ+ㅓ → ㅕ
배우-	+ 어요	배워요	ㅜ+ㅓ → ㅝ
쓰-	+ 어요	써요	ㅡ drops, + ㅓ

Common Verbs in Polite Form

Dictionary	Polite	Romanization	English
가다	가요	ga-yo	go
오다	와요	wa-yo	come
먹다	먹어요	meo-geo-yo	eat
마시다	마셔요	ma-syeo-yo	drink
하다	해요	hae-yo	do
보다	봐요	bwa-yo	see/watch
읽다	읽어요	il-geo-yo	read
쓰다	써요	sseo-yo	write
살다	살아요	sa-ra-yo	live
알다	알아요	a-ra-yo	know

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
가다 → 가요	ga-yo	go (polite)	ㅏ stem, contraction
먹다 → 먹어요	meo-geo-yo	eat (polite)	consonant stem
하다 → 해요	hae-yo	do (polite)	하다 special
마시다 → 마셔요	ma-syeo-yo	drink (polite)	ㅣ+ㅓ contraction
오다 → 와요	wa-yo	come (polite)	ㅗ+ㅏ contraction
배우다 → 배워요	bae-wo-yo	learn (polite)	ㅜ+ㅓ contraction
만나다 → 만나요	man-na-yo	meet (polite)	ㅏ stem
좋아하다 → 좋아해요	jo-a-hae-yo	like (polite)	compound 하다
있다 → 있어요	i-sseo-yo	exist/have (polite)	consonant stem
없다 → 없어요	eop-seo-yo	not exist (polite)	consonant stem

Common Mistakes

Applying the wrong vowel harmony

• Wrong: 먹 + 아요 → 먹아요
• Right: 먹 + 어요 → 먹어요
• Why: The last vowel in 먹 is ㅓ (not ㅏ or ㅗ), so it takes -어요.

Forgetting contractions

• Wrong: 가 + 아요 → 가아요
• Right: 가요 (ㅏ+ㅏ contracts to ㅏ)
• Why: When the stem vowel and ending vowel are similar, they merge. These contractions are mandatory, not optional.

Conjugating 하다 as 하어요

• Wrong: 하 + 어요 → 하어요
• Right: 하 + 여요 → 해요
• Why: 하다 verbs always become 해요, never 하어요. This is a special contraction.

Not recognizing irregular verbs

• Wrong: 듣다 → 듣어요
• Right: 듣다 → 들어요 (ㄷ irregular)
• Why: Some verbs have irregular stem changes before vowel endings. Key ones: 듣다→들어요, 돕다→도와요, 걷다→걸어요.

Usage Notes

The -아/어요 ending serves multiple functions depending on intonation: falling intonation for statements, rising intonation for questions, firm tone for mild commands, and warm tone for suggestions. This versatility makes it the most practical speech level. It is appropriate in shops, restaurants, workplaces, and with anyone you are not intimate with.

Practice Tips

• Conjugate 10 new verbs daily into the polite form. Check the last vowel of the stem, apply the rule, and verify with a reference.
• Practice saying common daily actions in polite form: 먹어요, 가요, 해요, 자요, 봐요. These cover most basic conversations.
• Listen to Korean conversations and notice how -요 at the end of sentences is the hallmark of polite speech.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Verb Stems — you must understand stems before conjugating
• Next steps: Casual Ending -아/어 — the same conjugation without 요
• Next steps: Negation 안/못 — learn to negate polite sentences
• Next steps: Past Tense -았/었 — add past tense to polite speech
• Next steps: Future/Intention -(으)ㄹ 거예요 — express future plans
• Next steps: Honorific -(으)시 — add respect to polite speech