-겠- in Korean: “will, must be (guess or intention)”
-겠-
-get-
will, must be (guess or intention)
Beginner · Sentence endings
-겠- (-get-) means "will" when you state your intention, and "must be" or "looks like" when you make a guess from what you see. For example, 제가 하겠습니다 means "I will do it", and 맛있겠다 means "That looks delicious." It goes inside the verb, before endings like -어요 or -습니다.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Any verb or adjective stem | + 겠 + ending | 가다 → 가겠어요, 맛있다 → 맛있겠다 |
| Formal | + 겠습니다 | 시작하다 → 시작하겠습니다 |
| Past (guess about the past) | 았/었 + 겠 | 힘들다 → 힘들었겠어요 |
| Noun | + 이겠 | 학생 → 학생이겠네요 |
How to use it
Intention: about yourself, -겠- means "I will" and sounds firm and polite. It is common in formal settings: 열심히 하겠습니다 (I will work hard). When you ask someone else, it asks what they would like: 뭐 드시겠어요? (What would you like to have?).
Guess: about something you see or hear, it means "must be" or "looks like": 맛있겠다! (That looks tasty!), 힘들었겠어요 (That must have been hard). It is a natural way to show sympathy.
It also appears in set phrases where it makes speech softer and more polite: 알겠습니다 (Understood), 모르겠어요 (I'm not sure), 처음 뵙겠습니다 (Nice to meet you).
Examples
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Looking at a friend's lunch
Volunteering at a meeting
Hearing about a friend's hard week
A server taking an order
Don’t mix it up with
-(으)ㄹ 거예요: Both can mean "will" or "probably". -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is more everyday and neutral; -겠- sounds firmer for plans and more on-the-spot for guesses.
-(으)ㄹ게요: -(으)ㄹ게요 is a promise made to the listener ("I'll do it for you"). -겠- is a more formal statement of intention.
Common mistakes
Using -겠- for another person's plans. 민수가 가겠어요 sounds like a guess ("Minsu will probably go"), not his plan. For other people's plans, use -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
Want the basics first? Read Future tense -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
Questions learners ask
What does 겠 mean in Korean?
-겠- shows either your intention ("I will") or a guess ("it must be"). Which one depends on whether you are talking about your own action or something you are judging.
Why do Koreans say 알겠습니다?
알겠습니다 means "Understood" or "Got it". The -겠- makes it sound polite and humble, so it is common at work and with customers.
What does 맛있겠다 mean?
맛있겠다 means "That looks delicious" or "That must be tasty". It is a guess based on what you see or smell.