(으)로 in Korean: “by, with, toward”
(으)로
(eu)ro
by, with, toward
Beginner · Particles
(으)로 ((eu)ro) means "by," "with" or "toward": 지하철로 가요 means "I go by subway." It marks the tool or way you do something, the direction you move in, and your choice when ordering. Use 로 after a vowel or ㄹ and 으로 after other consonants.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun ending in a vowel | + 로 | 버스 → 버스로 |
| Noun ending in ㄹ | + 로 | 지하철 → 지하철로, 연필 → 연필로 |
| Noun ending in another consonant | + 으로 | 손 → 손으로, 오른쪽 → 오른쪽으로 |
How to use it
Means or tool: 버스로 가요 (I go by bus), 손으로 먹어요 (I eat with my hands), 한국어로 말해요 (I speak in Korean).
Direction: 오른쪽으로 가세요 (Go to the right). Compared with 에, which marks the goal, (으)로 focuses on the direction you head in.
Choice: when ordering or deciding, (으)로 marks what you pick: 이걸로 할게요 (I'll go with this one).
(으)로 has no politeness level. The ㄹ rule is the main thing to remember: 지하철로, not 지하철으로.
Examples
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Explaining your commute
At a Korean BBQ place
Giving directions
Ordering at a cafe
Don’t mix it up with
에: 에 marks the destination (학교에 가요, I go to school), while (으)로 marks the direction or route (학교 쪽으로 가요, I head toward the school). With places, both are often possible.
에서: 에서 marks where an action happens or "from" a place. (으)로 marks the way or direction.
Common mistakes
Using 으로 after ㄹ, as in 지하철으로 or 연필으로. Nouns ending in ㄹ take 로: 지하철로, 연필로.
Want the basics first? Read 에 vs 에서.
Questions learners ask
When do I use 으로 and when do I use 로?
Use 로 after a vowel or ㄹ (버스로, 지하철로) and 으로 after any other consonant (손으로).
What does 이걸로 할게요 mean?
It means "I'll take this one." (으)로 marks your choice, and you hear it a lot when ordering.