Korean Grammar: 'ㅅ' Irregular Verbs (ㅅ 불규칙) Irregular Verbs Explained | Soona Study Lab

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The Shape-Shifters: Korean 'ㅅ' Irregular Verbs (ㅅ 불규칙)

Are you looking for the best Korean learning materials to master grammar? Welcome to Soona Study Lab's Grammar Masterclass! Today, we are tackling another frequently used yet confusing grammar point for Korean learners:

The 'ㅅ' Irregular Verbs (ㅅ 불규칙 동사).

Korean 'ㅅ' irregular verbs include essential actions like Recovering (낫다), Building (짓다), and Swelling (붓다). Watch out! When 'ㅅ' drops, it leaves a special trace behind!

Here is the tricky part: when these verb stems ending in 'ㅅ' meet a grammar pattern that starts with a vowel like '-아/어요' or '-(으)면', the 'ㅅ' completely disappears! However, unlike other irregulars, the remaining vowels DO NOT combine. They stay separated (like 낫다 -> 나아요, NOT 나요).

Don't worry! Because these words are related to daily activities, you will use them all the time. Once you understand this simple rule, you will sound much more natural. We'll also cover the "fake irregulars" (the regular exceptions like 웃다 and 씻다) that you must memorize.

Click the play buttons in the interactive module below to listen to the native pronunciation and practice reading out loud! (The full text and discussion questions are provided at the bottom of the page.)

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Full Grammar Breakdown, Conjugation Tables & Discussion (Free Study Materials)

Full Grammar Breakdown, Conjugation Tables

The Rule: ㅅ simply Disappears!

If a verb stem ends with the final consonant 'ㅅ', and the following grammar pattern starts with a vowel (like -아/어요 or -(으)면), the 'ㅅ' drops completely.

CRITICAL RULE: Even though the 'ㅅ' disappears, the two vowels DO NOT combine. They stay separated!

[Dictionary Form -> Meaning -> Conjugation]

• 낫다 -> To recover / be better -> 나 + 아요 = 나아요 (Not 나요)

• 짓다 -> To build / make -> 지 + 어요 = 지어요 (Not 져요)

• 붓다 -> To pour / swell -> 부 + 어요 = 부어요 (Not 붜요)

• 잇다 -> To connect -> 이 + 어요 = 이어요

• 젓다 -> To stir -> 저 + 어요 = 저어요

10 Sentences Practice (Present & Past Tense)

감기가 다 나았어요. (낫다 - Past)

[Gam-gi-ga da na-a-sseo-yo.]

My cold has fully recovered.

이 약을 먹으면 병이 나을 거예요. (낫다 - Future)

[I ya-geul meo-geu-myeon byeong-i na-eul kkeo-ye-yo.]

If you take this medicine, the illness will get better.

작년에 이 집을 지었어요. (짓다 - Past)

[Jang-nyeon-e i ji-beul ji-eo-sseo-yo.]

I built this house last year.

밥을 지어요. (짓다 - Present)

[Ba-beul ji-eo-yo.]

I am cooking (making) rice.

컵에 물을 부어요. (붓다 - Present)

[Keo-be mu-reul bu-eo-yo.]

I pour water into the cup.

아침에 일어나서 얼굴이 부었어요. (붓다 - Past)

[A-chi-me i-reo-na-seo eol-gu-ri bu-eo-sseo-yo.]

I woke up in the morning and my face was swollen.

커피를 스푼으로 잘 저으세요. (젓다 - Present)

[Keo-pi-reul seu-pu-neu-ro jal jeo-eu-se-yo.]

Please stir the coffee well with a spoon.

두 선을 하나로 이었어요. (잇다 - Past)

[Du seo-neul ha-na-ro i-eo-sseo-yo.]

I connected the two lines into one.

친구와 같이 크게 웃었어요. (웃다 - Regular)

[Chin-gu-wa ga-chi keu-ge u-seo-sseo-yo.]

I laughed loudly with my friend.

외출하고 나서 손을 깨끗하게 씻어요. (씻다 - Regular)

[Oe-chu-ra-go na-seo so-neul kkae-kkeu-ta-ge ssi-seo-yo.]

I wash my hands cleanly after going out.

Regular Exceptions (Do not change)

[Dictionary Form -> Meaning -> Conjugation]

• 웃다 -> To laugh / smile -> 웃 + 어요 = 웃어요

• 씻다 -> To wash -> 씻 + 어요 = 씻어요

• 벗다 -> To take off (clothes) -> 벗 + 어요 = 벗어요

• 빗다 -> To comb (hair) -> 빗 + 어요 = 빗어요

• 빼앗다 -> To take away -> 빼앗 + 아요 = 빼앗아요

코미디 영화를 보고 많이 웃었어요.

[Ko-mi-di yeong-hwa-reul bo-go ma-ni u-seo-sseo-yo.]

I laughed a lot watching a comedy movie.

매일 아침에 샤워하고 머리를 빗어요.

[Mae-il a-chi-me sya-wo-ha-go meo-ri-reul bi-seo-yo.]

I shower and comb my hair every morning.

집에 오면 코트를 벗어요.

[Ji-be o-myeon ko-teu-reul beo-seo-yo.]

I take off my coat when I come home.

Free Talking & Discussion Questions

감기에 걸리면 보통 어떻게 하나요?

[Gam-gi-e geol-ri-myeon bo-tong eo-tteo-ke ha-na-yo?]

What do you usually do when you catch a cold?

언제 얼굴이나 다리가 자주 붓나요?

[Eon-je eol-gu-ri-na da-ri-ga ja-ju bun-na-yo?]

When does your face or legs usually swell?

커피나 차를 마실 때 설탕을 넣고 젓나요?

[Keo-pi-na cha-reul ma-sil ttae seol-tang-eul neo-ko jeon-na-yo?]

Do you add sugar and stir when you drink coffee or tea?

최근에 크게 웃은 적이 있나요? 왜 웃었나요?

[Choe-geu-ne keu-ge u-seun jeo-gi in-na-yo? Wae u-seo-nna-yo?]

Have you laughed loudly recently? Why did you laugh?

한국어 실력이 처음보다 더 나아졌다고 생각하나요?

[Han-gu-geo sil-lyeo-gi cheo-eum-bo-da deo na-a-jyeot-tta-go saeng-ga-ka-na-yo?]

Do you think your Korean skills have gotten better than the beginning?

집에 오자마자 가장 먼저 손을 씻나요?

[Ji-be o-ja-ma-ja ga-jang meon-jeo so-neul ssin-na-yo?]

Do you wash your hands first thing as soon as you get home?

외출 후 집에 오면 가장 먼저 벗는 옷은 무엇인가요?

[Oe-chul hu ji-be o-myeon ga-jang meon-jeo beon-neun o-seun mu-eo-sin-ga-yo?]

What is the first piece of clothing you take off when you come home after going out?

여러분의 나라에서는 집을 지을 때 보통 어떤 재료를 사용하나요?

[Yeo-reo-bu-ne na-ra-e-seo-neun ji-beul ji-eul ttae bo-tong eo-tteon jae-ryo-reul sa-yong-ha-na-yo?]

What materials do you usually use to build a house in your country?

과거와 현재를 잇는 중요한 역사적 장소에 가 본 적이 있나요?

[Gwa-geo-wa hyeon-jae-reul in-neun jung-yo-han yeok-ssa-jeok jang-so-e ga bon jeo-gi in-na-yo?]

Have you ever been to an important historical place that connects the past and the present?

늦게 자서 아침에 눈이 부었을 때 어떻게 하나요?

[Neut-gge ja-seo a-chi-me nu-ni bu-eo-sseul ttae eo-tteo-ke ha-na-yo?]

What do you do when your eyes are swollen in the morning because you slept late?