Korean Grammar: '르' (Reu) Irregular Verbs Explained | Soona Study Lab

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The Shape-Shifters: Korean '르' (Reu) Irregular Verbs

If you have been studying Korean for a while, you already know that Korean verbs change their shapes depending on the tense and politeness level. While most verbs follow standard rules, some are a bit rebellious. Today, we are tackling one of the most common and confusing shape-shifters: The '르' (reu) Irregular.

Verbs and adjectives like 빠르다 (to be fast), 모르다 (to not know), and 부르다 (to sing/call) all end in '르'. When these words meet a vowel ending like -아/어요, they do not just drop the '으'—they magically spawn an extra 'ㄹ' (L/R) consonant!

In this premium interactive lesson, we will break down exactly how this "Double ㄹ" effect works, look at the top 10 most common '르' verbs, and learn the sneaky exceptions 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 grammar breakdown and discussion questions are provided at the bottom of the page.)

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Mastering Korean Irregulars

Understanding irregular verbs like '르' is what takes your Korean from "textbook sounding" to natural and fluent. The key to mastering these shape-shifters is not just memorizing the rules, but building muscle memory by speaking them out loud in real sentences.

Do you want to practice using these irregular verbs in real-time conversations without the fear of making mistakes? Join my premium 1:1 conversation classes. I will provide instant feedback and help you refine your nuances so you can speak Korean with absolute confidence. Let's reach your fluency goals together!

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

Grammar Focus: '르' (Reu) Irregular Verbs

1. The Rule: '르' becomes 'ㄹ라' or 'ㄹ러'

If a verb or adjective stem ends with '르', and it meets a vowel (like -아/어요), apply this simple formula:

Drop the 'ㅡ' vowel from '르'.

Add an extra 'ㄹ' as a 받침 (bottom consonant) to the previous syllable.

If the vowel before '르' is ㅏ or ㅗ, add 아요 (Result: ㄹ라요).

If the vowel before '르' is anything else, add 어요 (Result: ㄹ러요).

[Conjugation Examples]

빠르다 (To be fast): 빠ㄹ + ㄹ + 아요 = 빨라요

모르다 (To not know): 모ㄹ + ㄹ + 아요 = 몰라요

부르다 (To call / sing): 부ㄹ + ㄹ + 어요 = 불러요

다르다 (To be different): 다ㄹ + ㄹ + 아요 = 달라요

고르다 (To choose): 고ㄹ + ㄹ + 아요 = 골라요

서두르다 (To hurry): 서두ㄹ + ㄹ + 어요 = 서둘러요

2. Vowel Triggers (When does it change?)

The '르' irregular rule ONLY happens when you attach a grammar pattern that starts with a Vowel (ㅇ).

Present (-아/어요): 빠르다 -> 빨라요

Past (-았/었어요): 부르다 -> 불렀어요

Because (-아/어서): 모르다 -> 몰라서

Wait! What if it starts with a Consonant?

If the grammar starts with a Consonant (like -고, -지만, -습니다), the '르' does NOT change.

빠르다 + 고 = 빠르고 (Fast, and...)

모르다 + 지만 = 모르지만 (I don't know, but...)

3. Regular Exceptions (The '으' Irregulars that look like '르')

There are a few very common verbs that end in '르' but DO NOT add the double 'ㄹ'. For these exceptions, you ONLY drop the 'ㅡ' just like a normal '으' irregular verb. You must memorize these!

따르다 (To follow / pour): 따르 + 아요 = 따라요 (NOT 딸라요)

치르다 (To pay / take exam): 치르 + 어요 = 치러요 (NOT 칠러요)

들르다 (To drop by): 들르 + 어요 = 들러요 (NOT 들럴요)

Read & Listen (Sentence Practice)

KTX 기차는 정말 빨라요.

The KTX train is really fast.

[Ke-i-ti-ek-seu gi-cha-neun jeong-mal ppal-la-yo.]

저는 그 사람의 이름을 몰랐어요.

I didn't know that person's name.

[Jeo-neun geu sa-ra-me i-reu-meul mol-la-sseo-yo.]

어제 노래방에서 좋아하는 노래를 불렀어요.

I sang my favorite song at the karaoke yesterday.

[Eo-je no-rae-bang-e-seo jo-a-ha-neun no-rae-reul bul-leo-sseo-yo.]

어떤 옷을 입을지 몰라서 두 개 다 골랐어요.

I didn't know what clothes to wear, so I picked both.

[Eo-tteon o-seul i-beul-jji mol-la-seo du gae da gol-la-sseo-yo.]

한국 문화는 우리 나라와 많이 달라요.

Korean culture is very different from our country.

[Han-guk mun-hwa-neun u-ri na-ra-wa ma-ni dal-la-yo.]

머리가 너무 길어서 미용실에서 머리를 잘랐어요.

My hair was too long so I cut it at the hair salon.

[Meo-ri-ga neo-mu gi-reo-seo mi-yong-si-re-seo meo-ri-reul jal-la-sseo-yo.]

아침에 늦어서 너무 서둘렀어요.

I hurried too much because I was late in the morning.

[A-chi-me neu-jeo-seo neo-mu seo-dul-leo-sseo-yo.]

주말에는 항상 게을러져요.

I always get lazy on weekends.

[Ju-ma-re-neun hang-sang ge-eul-leo-jyeo-yo.]

목이 너무 말라요. 물 좀 주세요.

I'm so thirsty. Please give me some water.

[Mo-gi neo-mu mal-la-yo. Mul jom ju-se-yo.]

저는 집에서 고양이를 기르고 있어요.

I am raising a cat at home. (Notice '고' does not trigger the change!)

[Jeo-neun ji-be-seo go-yang-i-reul gi-reu-go i-sseo-yo.]

Free Talking & Discussion Questions

노래방에 가면 주로 어떤 노래를 부르나요?

What kind of songs do you usually sing when you go to karaoke?

[No-rae-bang-e ga-myeon ju-ro eo-tteon no-rae-reul bu-reu-na-yo?]

KTX나 비행기처럼 빠른 교통수단을 타는 것을 좋아해요?

Do you like taking fast transportation like KTX or airplanes?

[Ke-i-ti-ek-seu-na bi-haeng-gi-cheo-reom ppa-reun gyo-tong-su-da-neul ta-neun geo-seul jo-a-hae-yo?]

한국어를 공부할 때 여러분의 나라와 무엇이 가장 다르다고 느꼈어요?

When studying Korean, what did you feel was the most different from your country?

[Han-gu-geo-reul gong-bu-hal ttae yeo-reo-bu-ne na-ra-wa mu-eo-si ga-jang da-reu-da-go neu-kkyeo-sseo-yo?]

쇼핑할 때 물건을 빨리 고르는 편이에요, 아니면 오래 걸려요?

When shopping, do you tend to pick things quickly, or does it take a long time?

[Syo-ping-hal ttae mul-geo-neul ppal-li go-reu-neun pyeo-ni-e-yo, a-ni-myeon o-rae geol-lyeo-yo?]

아침에 늦게 일어나서 급하게 서두른 적이 있나요?

Have you ever woken up late in the morning and hurried in a rush?

[A-chi-me neut-kke i-reo-na-seo geu-pa-ge seo-du-reun jeo-gi in-na-yo?]

평소에 목이 마르기 전에 물을 자주 마시는 편인가요?

Do you usually tend to drink water often before you get thirsty?

[Pyeong-so-e mo-gi ma-reu-gi jeo-ne mu-reul ja-ju ma-si-neun pyeo-nin-ga-yo?]

미용실에서 머리를 짧게 잘랐을 때 기분이 어땠어요?

How did you feel when you cut your hair short at the hair salon?

[Mi-yong-si-re-seo meo-ri-reul jjal-kke jal-la-sseul ttae gi-bu-ni eo-ttae-sseo-yo?]

강아지나 고양이 같은 반려동물을 기르고 싶어요?

Do you want to raise a pet like a dog or a cat?

[Gang-a-ji-na go-yang-i ga-teun bal-lyeo-dong-mu-reul gi-reu-go si-peo-yo?]

주말에 가끔 게을러질 때 주로 무엇을 하면서 시간을 보내요?

When you sometimes get lazy on weekends, what do you usually do to spend time?

[Ju-ma-re ga-kkeum ge-eul-leo-jil ttae ju-ro mu-eo-seul ha-myeon-seo si-ga-neul bo-nae-yo?]

한국 여행을 가면 어디에 제일 먼저 들르고 싶어요?

When you travel to Korea, where do you want to drop by first?

[Han-guk yeo-haeng-eul ga-myeon eo-di-e je-il meon-jeo deul-leu-go si-peo-yo?]