Expressing 'with' with '랑'

01

Construction Rules

The choice between 랑 (rangrangranglang) and 이랑 (i·rangi·rangi·rangi·lang) depends entirely on the final sound of the preceding noun.

• Ends in a Vowel: Add 랑 (rangrangranglang).
• Ends in a Consonant: Add 이랑 (i·rangi·rangi·rangi·lang).

• 우유랑 빵

  u·yu·rang bbangu·yu·rang bbangu·yu·rang ppangu·yu·lang ppang

  milk and bread

• 가방이랑 모자

  ga·bang·i·rang mo·jaga·bang·i·rang mo·jaga·bang·i·rang mo·jaka·pang·i·lang mo·ca

  bag and hat

02

Meaning 1: "And" (Listing Items)

When used between two nouns, 랑/이랑 (rang/i·rangrang/i·rangrang/i·ranglang/i·lang) functions as a conjunction similar to and. It simply lists items or people together.

• 저랑 오빠

  jŏ·rang o·bbajeo·rang o·bbajŏ·rang o·ppace·lang o·ppa

  me and my older brother

• 밥이랑 김치

  bap·i·rang gim·chibap·i·rang gim·jibap·i·rang gim·chipap·i·lang kim·ci

  rice and kimchi

• 오늘이랑 내일

  o·nŭl·i·rang næ·ilo·neul·i·rang nae·ilo·nŭl·i·rang nae·ilo·nul·i·lang nay·il

  today and tomorrow

In very casual speech, it is common to attach the particle to the final noun in the list as well, unlike the English "and" which usually only appears between items.

• 커피랑 케이크랑 주세요.

  kʰŏ·pʰi·rang kʰe·i·kʰŭ·rang ju·se·yo.keo·pi·rang ke·i·keu·rang ju·se·yo.k'ŏ·p'i·rang k'e·i·k'ŭ·rang ju·se·yo.khe·phi·lang khey·i·khu·lang cu·sey·yo.

  Please give me coffee and cake.

03

Meaning 2: "With" (Accompaniment)

When used with a person (or living thing) followed by a verb, 랑/이랑 (rang/i·rangrang/i·rangrang/i·ranglang/i·lang) translates to with. It indicates who you are performing an action with.

• 친구랑 가요.

  chin·gu·rang ga·yo.jin·gu·rang ga·yo.chin·gu·rang ga·yo.cin·ku·lang ka·yo.

  I go with a friend.

• 선생님이랑 말해요.

  sŏn·sæng·nim·i·rang mal·hæ·yo.seon·saeng·nim·i·rang mal·hae·yo.sŏn·saeng·nim·i·rang mal·hae·yo.sen·sayng·nim·i·lang mal·hay·yo.

  I speak with the teacher.

To emphasize the meaning of "together," speakers often add the adverb 같이 (gat·igat·igat·ikat·i) immediately after the particle. While 랑 (rangrangranglang) implies "with," adding 같이 (gat·igat·igat·ikat·i) makes it explicitly "together with."

• 엄마랑 같이 살아요.

  ŏm·ma·rang gat·i sa·ra·yo.eom·ma·rang gat·i sa·ra·yo.ŏm·ma·rang gat·i sa·ra·yo.em·ma·lang kat·i sa·la·yo.

  I live together with mom.

• 우리랑 같이 공부해요.

  u·ri·rang gat·i gong·bu·hæ·yo.u·ri·rang gat·i gong·bu·hae·yo.u·ri·rang gat·i gong·bu·hae·yo.u·li·lang kat·i kong·pu·hay·yo.

  Study together with us.

04

Comparison with Other Particles

There are three main ways to say "and/with" in Korean, distinguished by formality and medium (spoken vs. written).

• 랑/이랑 (rang/i·rangrang/i·rangrang/i·ranglang/i·lang): Most casual. Used mainly in daily conversation.
• 하고 (ha·goha·goha·goha·ko): Colloquial but slightly more neutral than 랑 (rangrangranglang). Used in speech and writing.
• 와/과 (wa/kwa): Formal. Used primarily in written Korean, speeches, or news broadcasts.

While 와/과 (wa/kwa) changes based on spelling (consonants/vowels), 하고 (ha·goha·goha·goha·ko) is invariable. 랑/이랑 (rang/i·rangrang/i·rangrang/i·ranglang/i·lang) follows the sound pattern described above.

• 학생하고 선생님

  hak·sæng·ha·go sŏn·sæng·nimhak·saeng·ha·go seon·saeng·nimhak·saeng·ha·go sŏn·saeng·nimhak·sayng·ha·ko sen·sayng·nim

  student and teacher (Neutral)

• 학생과 선생님

  hak·sæng·gwa sŏn·sæng·nimhak·saeng·gwa seon·saeng·nimhak·saeng·gwa sŏn·saeng·nimhak·sayng·kwa sen·sayng·nim

  student and teacher (Formal)

• 학생이랑 선생님

  hak·sæng·i·rang sŏn·sæng·nimhak·saeng·i·rang seon·saeng·nimhak·saeng·i·rang sŏn·saeng·nimhak·sayng·i·lang sen·sayng·nim

  student and teacher (Casual)