Nouns: Plural

01

General Nouns and Context

For most inanimate objects (things that are not people or animals), the plural suffix 들 (dŭldeuldŭltul) is rarely used in natural conversation. If you say "I bought a book," the listener usually understands from the situation whether you bought one or several. Adding the suffix to inanimate objects often sounds unnatural or like a translation from a foreign language.

If you need to be specific about the number of items, it is more common to use numbers and counters rather than the plural suffix.

• 사과가 있어요.

  sa·gwa·ga iss·ŏ·yo.sa·gwa·ga iss·eo·yo.sa·gwa·ga iss·ŏ·yo.sa·kwa·ka iss·e·yo.

  There is an apple / There are apples.

• 책을 읽어요.

  chʰæk·ŭl ilg·ŏ·yo.chaek·eul ilg·eo·yo.ch'aek·ŭl ilg·ŏ·yo.chayk·ul ilg·e·yo.

  I read a book / I read books.

02

People and Living Things

The suffix 들 (dŭldeuldŭltul) is used more frequently with nouns referring to people. While it is still often optional if the context is clear, adding it emphasizes that you are talking about a specific group of individuals.

• 사람들이 많아요.

  sa·ram·dŭl·i man·ʰa·yo.sa·ram·deul·i man·ʰa·yo.sa·ram·dŭl·i man·ʰa·yo.sa·lam·tul·i man·ʰa·yo.

  There are many people.

• 친구들을 만나요.

  chin·gu·dŭl·ŭl man·na·yo.jin·gu·deul·eul man·na·yo.chin·gu·dŭl·ŭl man·na·yo.cin·ku·tul·ul man·na·yo.

  I meet my friends.

• 학생들이 공부해요.

  hak·sæng·dŭl·i gong·bu·hæ·yo.hak·saeng·deul·i gong·bu·hae·yo.hak·saeng·dŭl·i gong·bu·hae·yo.hak·sayng·tul·i kong·pu·hay·yo.

  The students are studying.

03

Pluralizing Pronouns

While the suffix is optional for nouns, it is mandatory when changing singular pronouns into plural pronouns. You cannot rely on context to turn "I" into "We" or "He" into "They"; you must use the specific plural forms.

First Person (I → We)

The word for "we" or "us" is distinct. While it technically functions as a plural form, it is often a unique word rather than just "I" + suffix.

• 저 (chŏjeochŏce) [I, formal] becomes 저희 (chŏ·hŭijeo·huichŏ·hŭice·huy) [We, formal].
• 나 (na) [I, casual] becomes 우리 (u·riu·riu·riu·li) [We, casual].

Second Person (You → You all)

• 너 (nŏneonŏne) [You] becomes 너희 (nŏ·hŭineo·huinŏ·hŭine·huy) [You all].
• 당신 (dang·sindang·sindang·sintang·sin) [You] becomes 당신들 (dang·sin·dŭldang·sin·deuldang·sin·dŭltang·sin·tul) [You all].

Third Person (He/She → They)

• 그 (kŭgeukŭku) [He] becomes 그들 (kŭ·dŭlgeu·deulkŭ·dŭlku·tul) [They].
• 그녀 (kŭ·nyŏgeu·nyeokŭ·nyŏku·nye) [She] becomes 그녀들 (kŭ·nyŏ·dŭlgeu·nyeo·deulkŭ·nyŏ·dŭlku·nye·tul) [They, female group].

• 우리는 학교에 가요.

  u·ri·nŭn hak·gyo·e ga·yo.u·ri·neun hak·gyo·e ga·yo.u·ri·nŭn hak·gyo·e ga·yo.u·li·nun hak·kyo·ey ka·yo.

  We are going to school.

• 그들은 한국 사람이에요.

  kŭ·dŭl·ŭn han·guk sa·ram·i·e·yo.geu·deul·eun han·guk sa·ram·i·e·yo.kŭ·dŭl·ŭn han·guk sa·ram·i·e·yo.ku·tul·un han·kuk sa·lam·i·ey·yo.

  They are Koreans.

• 너희는 배고파?

  nŏ·hŭi·nŭn bæ·go·pʰa?neo·hui·neun bae·go·pa?nŏ·hŭi·nŭn bae·go·p'a?ne·huy·nun pay·ko·pha?

  Are you (guys) hungry?

04

Structure and Particle Placement

When using 들 (dŭldeuldŭltul), it attaches directly to the noun or pronoun. Any other grammatical particles (such as subject or object markers) are attached after the plural suffix.

Structure: Noun + 들 (dŭldeuldŭltul) + Particle

• 선생님들이 바빠요.

  sŏn·sæng·nim·dŭl·i ba·bba·yo.seon·saeng·nim·deul·i ba·bba·yo.sŏn·saeng·nim·dŭl·i ba·ppa·yo.sen·sayng·nim·tul·i pa·ppa·yo.

  The teachers are busy.

• 아이들이 놀아요.

  a·i·dŭl·i no·ra·yo.a·i·deul·i no·ra·yo.a·i·dŭl·i no·ra·yo.a·i·tul·i no·la·yo.

  The children are playing.