Korean grammar

하고, 와/과 and 도: and, with and too in Korean

Korean has several ways to say and. 하고 is the everyday one, between nouns and for with a person. 와/과 is the more formal and written version. 도 means too, and it replaces the particle it would otherwise sit next to.

Examples are written in Hangul. New to it? Start with the hangul chart.

In short

  • 하고 joins nouns (커피하고 빵) and means with after a person (친구하고).
  • 와 after a vowel, 과 after a consonant: the formal and.
  • 도 replaces 은/는, 이/가 and 을/를: 저도, 커피도.

하고 = 'and' (between nouns)

Put 하고 between two nouns to mean 'and'. 커피하고 빵 = 'coffee and bread'. 밥하고 물 = 'rice and water'. The best part: 하고 works after BOTH vowels and consonants, so there's no ending to choose. Attach it to the first noun.

  • 밥하고 물

    rice and water

  • 사과하고 우유

    an apple and milk

하고 also means 'with'

Attach 하고 to a person to mean 'with them'. 친구하고 = 'with a friend'. 친구하고 영화를 봐요 = 'I watch a movie with a friend'. Same word, context tells you whether it's 'and' or 'with'.

  • 친구하고 커피를 마셔요

    I drink coffee with a friend

  • 친구하고 영화를 봐요

    I watch a movie with a friend

와 (after vowel) / 과 (after consonant)

와/과 is a more formal 'and' — common in writing and careful speech. Use 와 after a vowel: 커피와 우유 ('coffee and milk'). Use 과 after a consonant: 빵과 우유 ('bread and milk'). Meaning is identical to 하고; the register is just dressier.

  • 커피와 우유

    coffee and milk

  • 빵과 우유

    bread and milk

도 REPLACES the particle

도 means 'too / also'. The trick: it REPLACES 은/는/이/가/을/를 — it never stacks on top of them. 저 + 도 = 저도 ('me too'), NOT 저는도. 커피도 마셔요 = 'I drink coffee too' (도 replaces 를). Attach 도 directly to the noun.

  • 커피도 마셔요

    I drink coffee too.

  • 저도 가요

    I'm going too

Choosing your connector

하고 = everyday 'and / with'. 와/과 = formal 'and'. 도 = 'too' (and it replaces the particle). 커피하고 빵을 먹어요 = 'I eat coffee and bread'. 저도 커피를 마셔요 = 'I drink coffee too'.

  • 커피하고 빵을 먹어요

    I eat coffee and bread

Check yourself

Questions from the course. Open each one to see the answer.

  1. 1. 'coffee and bread': pick the Korean.

    • 커피 빵하고
    • 커피를 빵
    • 커피하고 빵
    • 커피하고도 빵
    Show answer

    커피하고 빵

    하고 attaches to the first noun: 커피하고 빵.

  2. 2. 'with a friend': pick the Korean.

    • 친구하고
    • 친구를
    • 친구도
    • 친구에
    Show answer

    친구하고

    하고 on a person = 'with'. 친구하고.

  3. 3. 사과 ends in a vowel. 'an apple and milk' (formal): pick the Korean.

    • 사과과 우유
    • 사과를 우유
    • 사과도 우유
    • 사과와 우유
    Show answer

    사과와 우유

    사과 (vowel) → 와.

  4. 4. 'me too': pick the Korean.

    • 저는도
    • 저를도
    • 저도는
    • 저도
    Show answer

    저도

    도 replaces the particle — 저도, never 저는도.

  5. 5. 'A friend goes too.' Pick the Korean.

    • 친구가도 가요
    • 친구도가 가요
    • 친구도 가요
    • 친구를도 가요
    Show answer

    친구도 가요

    도 replaces 가 — 친구도 가요.

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