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. '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. 'with a friend': pick the Korean.
- 친구하고
- 친구를
- 친구도
- 친구에
Show answer
친구하고
하고 on a person = 'with'. 친구하고.
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. 'me too': pick the Korean.
- 저는도
- 저를도
- 저도는
- 저도
Show answer
저도
도 replaces the particle — 저도, never 저는도.
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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Keep going
- 은/는 vs 이/가When to use 은/는 and when to use 이/가 in Korean, how to pick the right form after a consonant or vowel, with course examples and practice questions.
- The object particle 을/를 and Korean word orderHow the Korean object particle 을/를 works, how Korean word order puts the verb last, and why 좋아하다 takes 을/를.