-스럽다 in Korean: “-ish, -ful”
-스럽다
-seureopda
-ish, -ful
Intermediate · Word endings and look-alikes
-스럽다 (-seureopda) means "-ish" or "-ful": it turns a noun into an adjective meaning "having that feeling or quality," as in 사랑 (love) → 사랑스럽다 (lovely). Many common adjectives are made this way, like 자연스럽다 (natural). It follows the ㅂ-irregular pattern, so it becomes 스러워요.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (dictionary form) | + 스럽다 | 사랑 → 사랑스럽다 |
| Polite present (ㅂ-irregular) | + 스러워요 | 자연 → 자연스러워요 |
| Before a noun | + 스러운 + noun | 고급 → 고급스러운 식당 |
| As an adverb | + 스럽게 | 자연 → 자연스럽게 |
How to use it
-스럽다 describes the feeling or impression something gives: 사랑스러워요 (lovely), 걱정스러워요 (worrying), 촌스러워요 (tacky, countrified).
It does not mean the thing actually is that noun. 어른스럽다 is used for a child who seems mature, not for an adult.
Because it is ㅂ-irregular, 스럽 becomes 스러우 before vowels: 스러워요, 스러운, 스러웠어요. Before consonants it stays: 스럽게, 스럽지 않아요.
You cannot add it to just any noun. Treat words like 자연스럽다 and 사랑스럽다 as vocabulary to learn.
Examples
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Complimenting a learner
Looking at a puppy
Trying on clothes
Arriving for dinner
Don’t mix it up with
-답다: -답다 means living up to what you are (어른답다, an adult acting properly). -스럽다 means giving that impression (어른스럽다, a child acting grown-up).
-적: -적 is more formal and abstract ("-ic, -al"), while -스럽다 makes everyday feeling adjectives.
Common mistakes
Forgetting the ㅂ-irregular change, as in 자연스럽어요. The correct form is 자연스러워요.
Questions learners ask
What does 자연스럽다 mean?
자연스럽다 means "natural," as in sounding or looking natural. It is one of the most common -스럽다 words.
Can I add -스럽다 to any noun?
No. Only certain nouns take it, so it is best to learn each word on its own.