-더라(고요) in Korean: “I noticed, I found that”
-더라(고요)
-deora(goyo)
I noticed, I found that
Intermediate · Sentence endings
-더라(고요) (-deora-goyo) means "I noticed that" or "I found that." You use it to tell someone about something you saw, heard or felt yourself in the past. It is like sharing a fresh first-hand report.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb or adjective stem | + 더라(고요) | 맛있다 → 맛있더라고요 |
| ㅂ adjective stem (no change) | + 더라(고요) | 춥다 → 춥더라고요 |
| Noun | + (이)더라(고요) | 학생 → 학생이더라고요, 의사 → 의사더라고요 |
| Past (already done when you saw it) | 았/었 + 더라(고요) | 가다 → 갔더라고요 |
How to use it
-더라(고요) reports something you experienced directly: a place you visited, food you tasted, a person you met. The feeling is "here's what I found when I was there."
The subject is usually someone or something else, not you. When the subject is you, it is mostly about feelings or reactions you noticed in yourself, like 저도 좀 무섭더라고요 ("I found I was a bit scared too").
더라 and 더라고 are casual, for friends. 더라고요 is polite and very common in conversation. 더라 can also sound like you're thinking out loud.
Examples
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Recommending a restaurant
Back from outside
Telling a friend what you saw
Talking about a movie
Don’t mix it up with
-던데(요): -던데요 also shares something you saw yourself, but it leaves the sentence open, often hinting at a contrast or inviting a reaction.
-았/었어요: The plain past just states a fact. -더라고요 adds "I saw or felt this myself," so it sounds more vivid and personal.
Common mistakes
Using it for your own planned actions. "I ate lunch" is 점심을 먹었어요, not 점심을 먹더라고요.
Using it for things you only heard about secondhand. For hearsay, use -대요/-래요.
Want the basics first? Read Korean past tense (았어요 / 었어요).
Questions learners ask
What does 더라고요 mean?
It means "I noticed" or "I found that." You use it to report something you saw or experienced yourself in the past.
What is the difference between 더라 and 더라고요?
They mean the same thing. 더라 is casual, 더라고 is casual and chatty, and 더라고요 is the polite version.
Can I use 더라고요 about myself?
Mostly for your own feelings or reactions, like 생각보다 재미있더라고요 about something you tried. For things you simply did, use the normal past tense.