Mastering pronouns is one of the most crucial steps in studying a language, because without them, your sentences will sound a bit off and you won’t be able to properly converse with people. In this article, we’re going to introduce many Korean pronouns, mainly focusing on Korean subject pronouns.
But first things first, let’s take a look at the definition of “pronoun.” According to Vocabulary.com, a pronoun is a word that replaces a noun in a sentence. For example, instead of repeating someone’s name over and over again while talking about them, you can replace their name with “he” or “she.”
Ready to learn Korean pronouns? There are many pronouns in Korean that you need to master in order to construct fluid sentences, so let’s have a look at them!
Table of Contents
- Korean Personal Pronouns
- First, Second, Third Person Plural
- Korean Demonstrative Pronouns
- Korean Interrogative Pronouns
- How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean
1. Korean Personal Pronouns
1- First, Second, Third Person Singular
1- 나는 / 저는 (naneun / jeoneun), “I” – Informal / Formal
나는 (naneun) is an informal way to address yourself. However, this word is rarely used in speech and it sounds unnatural if you say this word while speaking with someone. Therefore, it’s better to skip 나는 (naneun), or use 난 (nan) instead.
저는 (jeoneun) is a formal way to address yourself and it’s often used in formal language when speaking. Many Koreans also use 전 (jeon), which is a shortened version of 저는 (jeoneun).
Examples
- 난 이제 가야 할 것 같아. (Informal)
Nan ije gaya hal geot gata.
“I think I’d better go now.”
- (나는) 이제 가야할 것 같아. (Informal)
(Naneun) ije gayahal geot gata.
“(I think) I’d better go now.”
- 전 이탈리아에서 왔습니다. (Formal)
Jeon italliaeseo watseumnida.
“I’m from Italy.”
- (저는) 이탈리아에서 왔습니다. (Formal)
(Jeoneun) italliaeseo watseumnida.
“I’m from Italy.”
2- 너는 / 당신은 (neoneun / dangsineun), “You” – Informal / Formal
너는 (neoneun) is an informal way to say “you,” and 넌 (neon), which is a shortened version of 너는 (neoneun), is also commonly used in speaking.
당신은 (dangsineun) is a polite form of 너는 (neoneun). It’s important to know that using this Korean pronoun with a stranger is usually considered impolite. Also, this pronoun is commonly used between married couples, so you’ll hear this word used a lot between mature married couples.
Examples
- 넌 아무것도 몰라, 존 스노우.
Neon amugeotdo molla, Jon Seunou.
“You know nothing, Jon Snow.”
- 당신과 함께 늙고 싶어요.
Dangsingwa hamkke neukgo sipeoyo.
“I want to grow old with you.”
3- 그는 / 그녀는 (geuneun / geunyeoneun), “He” and “She”
그는 (geuneun) and 그녀는 (geunyeoneun) are two words that distinguish the gender of the person you want to talk about. However, do keep in mind that while using the words “he” and “she” in English is very common, it’s rare to use these two Korean personal pronouns when speaking in Korea.
Many Koreans don’t mention a person’s gender when speaking. Instead, they use the more common words 그 사람 (geu saram) or 그분 (geubun), which mean “that person” in informal and formal language respectively.
Examples
- 그 사람 자주 와요?
Geu saram jaju wayo?
“Does he/she come often?”
- 그분이 내일 오실까요?
Geubuni naeil osilkkayo?
“Do you think that he/she will come tomorrow?”
2. First, Second, Third Person Plural
1. 우리는 / 저희는 (urineun / jeohuineun), “We” – Informal / Formal
As you may have already guessed, 우리는 (urineun) is a casual way to say “we,” and 저희는 (jeohuineun) is used in formal situations. When speaking, you can also slightly shorten these two words and say 우린 (urin) and 저흰 (jeohuin) respectively.
Examples
- 우리는 전혀 신경 안 써. (Casual speaking)
Urineun jeonhyeo singyeong an sseo.
“We really don’t care.”
- 우린 전혀 신경 안 써. (Casual speaking)
Urin jeonhyeo singyeong an sseo.
“We really don’t care.”
- 저희는 1년 전에 만났어요. (Polite speaking)
Jeohuineun illyeon jeone mannasseoyo.
“We just met a year ago.”
- 저흰 1년 전에 만났어요. (Polite speaking)
Jeohuin ilnyeon jeone mannasseoyo.
“We just met a year ago.”
- 저희는 아침, 점심, 저녁 식사를 일주일 내내 제공합니다. (Formal speaking – business level)
Jeohuineun achim, jeomsim, jeonyeok siksareul iljuil naenae jegonghamnida.
“We serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.”
- 저희는 형제 사이입니다.
Jeohuineun hyeongje sai-imnida.
“We are brothers.”
- 저흰 형제 사이입니다.
Jeohuin hyeongje sai-imnida.
“We are brothers.”
2. 그들은 /그 사람들은 (geudeureun / geu saramdeureun), “They,” “You” (in a group)
그들은 (geudeureun) is usually used in written context and is rarely used in speech. If you say this word while describing a group (while speaking), it still makes sense to the native speakers, but they’ll instantly know that you’re not fluent yet. Why? Because it sounds unnatural to their ears.
Instead, you can say 그 사람들은 (geu saramdeureun) to sound more natural when speaking. You can also say 그 분들은 (geu bundeureun), which is a formal way to say “they” in speech.
Examples
- 그들은 그 계획에 반대투표했다. (Writing)
Geudeureun geu gyehoege bandaetupyohaetda.
“They voted against the plan.”
- 그들은 헤어졌다. (Writing)
Geudeureun he-eojyeotda.
“They broke up.”
- 왜 (그 사람들은) 우리를 기다리지 않았지? (Casual speaking)
Wae geu saramdeureun urireul gidariji anatji?
“Why didn’t they wait for us?”
- 그 사람들은 바쁘면 보통 전화를 안 받아요.
Geu saramdeureun bappeumyeon botong jeonhwareul an badayo.
“They usually don’t answer when they’re busy.”
3. Korean Demonstrative Pronouns
1. 이것 / 저것 (igeot / jeogeot), “This,” “That”
Difference between 이것 (igeot) and 이거 (igeo)
A lot of people are unsure about how to differentiate between words that have similar meanings. One of the most common questions we get is about how to differentiate 이것 (igeot) and 이거 (igeo).
These two words have the same meaning, but how are they different? According to the National Institute of Korean Language, these two Korean pronouns have exactly the same meaning, but 이거 (igeo) is often used in speaking. For example, 이것 주세요 (igeot juseyo) and 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) are the same, except that 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) is used in speaking.
Examples
- 이것 좀 어머니께 전해 드려. (Polite speaking)
Igeot jom eomeonikke jeonhae deuryeo.
“Give this to your mother.”
- 이것 말고 다른 방법은 없을까? (Casual speaking)
Igeot malgo dareun bangbeobeun eopseulkka?
“Isn’t there another way?”
- 이것저것 해봤어. (Casual speaking)
Igeotjeogeot haebwasseo.
“I tried this and that.”
- 이것보다 저것이 더 좋아보이네. (Casual speaking)
Igeotboda jeogeosi deo joaboine.
“That one is better than this one.”
2. 여기 / 저기 (yeogi / jeogi) “Here,” “There”
Examples
- 여기 나와 계신 줄 몰랐어요.
Yeogi nawa gyesin jul mollasseoyo.
“I didn’t realize you were out here.”
- 너 방금 그 날 밤에 여기 없었다고 했잖아.
Neo banggeum geu nal bame yeogi eopseotdago haetjana.
“You just said that you weren’t here that night.”
- 저기 좀 봐.
Jeogi jom bwa.
“Look, over there.”
- 저기가 우리 집이다.
Jeogiga uri jibida.
“My place is over there.”
4. Korean Interrogative Pronouns
Below is a list of Korean pronouns used to ask questions:
- “What” — 무엇 (mueot)
- “Which” — 어느 (eoneu)
- “Who/Whom” — 누가 (nuga)
- “Where” — 어디 (eodi)
- “When” — 언제 (eonje)
- “Why” — 왜 (wae)
- “Whose” — 누구의 (nuguui)
Let’s have a look at each Korean interrogative pronoun with example sentences.
1. 무엇 (mueot), “What”
Examples
- 직업이 무엇입니까? (Formal speaking)
Jigeobi mueosimnikka?
“What do you do for a living?”
- = 무슨일 하고 있어요? (Casual speaking)
Museunil hago isseoyo?
“What do you do for a living?”
2. 어느 것 (eoneu geot), “Which”
Examples
- 어느 것이 더 싸요? (Polite speaking)
Eoneu geosi deo ssayo?
“Which is cheaper?”
- 어느 것이 더 무겁습니까? (Formal speaking)
Eoneu geosi deo mugeopseumnikka?
“Which one is heavier?”
3. 누가 (nuga), “Who”
Examples
- 누가 쓴 책이죠?
Nuga sseun chaegijyo?
“Who’s the author?”
- 누가 방귀 뀌었죠?
Nuga banggwi kkwieotjyo?
“Who has just farted?”
4. 어디 (eodi), “Where”
Examples
- 내 신발이 어디 있지? (Casual speaking)
Nae sinbari eodi itji?
“Where are my shoes?”
- 오늘 어디 가세요? (Formal speaking)
Oneul eodi gaseyo?
“Where are you going today?”
5. 언제 (eonje), “When”
Examples
- 언제 찾아 뵐까요? (Formal speaking)
Eonje chaja boelkkayo?
“When shall I call on you?”
- 서울에는 언제 오셨어요?
seoureneun eonje osyeosseoyo?
“When did you come to Seoul?”
6. 왜 (wae), “Why”
Examples
- 왜 화가 나있어?
Wae hwaga naisseo?
“Why are you angry?”
- 왜 망설이고 있어?
Wae mangseorigo isseo?
“Why are you hesitating?”
7. 누구의 (nuguui), “Whose”
Examples
- 저건 누구의 집이죠?
jeogeon nuguui jibijyo?
“Whose house is that?”
- 이건 누구 것인지 모르겠네.
igeon nugu geosinji moreugenne.
“I wonder whose this is.”
5. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean
To summarize what we’ve learned today, our Korean pronouns list covered three main pronoun groups:
- Korean personal pronouns, such as 나 (na), 너 (neo), and 우리 (uri)
- Korean demonstrative pronouns, such as 이것 (igeot) and 여기 (yeogi)
- Korean interrogative pronouns, such as 언제 (eonje) and 왜 (wae)
We have many exercises to help you practice these pronouns, so check out these pages:
In addition, KoreanClass101 has many free Korean lessons and vocabulary lists for you to study at your own pace too, so feel free to visit our website!
I hope you found this Korean pronouns lesson useful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment below!
