Korean "And" and "With": 하고, 와/과 and (이)랑 Explained
Learn three ways to say "and" between nouns in Korean: 하고, 와/과 and (이)랑. See which ones are spoken or written, and how to say "with" a friend or family member.
BeginnerSentence basics7 min readTap any Korean word to see it explained
The short answer
To say “and” between two nouns, attach 하고 to the first one: 빵하고 우유 (bread and milk). 와/과 means the same but sounds written, and (이)랑 sounds casual. All three also mean “with”: 친구하고 같이 (together with a friend).
In English, “and” is a separate word. In Korean, it is a little particle stuck to the end of the first noun. There are three of them, and the only real difference is the feel: everyday, written or casual. Tap the chips below to see each part.
1. 하고: the everyday “and”
하고 is the easiest one. It never changes shape, so it works after any noun. Put it on the first noun, then say the second noun as usual.
The particle for the whole sentence (을, 를, 이, 가) goes only on the last noun.
2. 와/과: the written “and”
와/과 means exactly the same thing, but it sounds like writing. You see it in books, signs, news and formal speeches. Pick the form by the last sound of the noun:
- After a vowel: 와, as in 커피와 차 (coffee and tea).
- After a consonant: 과, as in 서울과 부산 (Seoul and Busan).
3. (이)랑: the casual “and”
(이)랑 is warm and relaxed. You hear it all the time with friends and family, and in K-dramas. After a vowel it is 랑. After a consonant, add 이 first: 이랑.
When ordering, people often drop the object particle, so 김밥 has none here.
| Noun | 하고 (everyday) | 와/과 (written) | (이)랑 (casual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 친구 (friend) | 친구하고 | 친구와 | 친구랑 |
| 학교 (school) | 학교하고 | 학교와 | 학교랑 |
| 동생 (younger sibling) | 동생하고 | 동생과 | 동생이랑 |
| 물 (water) | 물하고 | 물과 | 물이랑 |
4. “With” a person: 하고 같이
The same three particles also mean “with”. Koreans often add 같이 (together) after them to make it clear. In writing, 함께 is a more formal word for “together”.
가족과 함께 sounds a little formal, like something you would write in a self-introduction.
5. “And” between verbs is different
하고, 와/과 and (이)랑 only join nouns. To join two actions, like “I ate and went to school”, you add the ending 고 to the verb stem instead: 밥을 먹고 학교에 갔어요. Learn how it works in -고: and, and then.
And what about 그리고? It also means “and”, but it usually starts a new sentence: 빵을 샀어요. 그리고 우유도 샀어요. (I bought bread. And I bought milk too.)
Hear it in songs
Song lyrics love 너랑 나 (you and me) and 너와 나, the more poetic version. Open a song in Hanbok Lyrics and tap a line to see each particle explained. Next, learn how to join verbs with -고 (and, and then), or review the basics in 은/는 vs 이/가.
Check yourself
Quick check · 1 of 4Book and notebook = 책___ 공책
책 ends in a consonant (ㄱ).
Questions learners ask
How do you say "and" in Korean?
Between two nouns, attach 하고 to the first one: 빵하고 우유 (bread and milk). You can also use 와/과 in writing or (이)랑 in casual speech. Between two verbs, use the ending 고 instead: 먹고 가요 (eat and go).
What is the difference between 하고, 와/과 and 랑?
They all mean "and" or "with" between nouns. 하고 is the everyday choice in speech. 와/과 sounds written or formal, like a textbook or the news. (이)랑 is friendly and casual, very common with friends and family.
When do you use 와 and when do you use 과?
Look at the last letter of the noun. After a vowel, use 와: 커피와 차. After a consonant (a final 받침), use 과: 서울과 부산. Rule for 랑 is the same idea: 친구랑, but 동생이랑.
How do you say "with someone" in Korean?
Use the same particles, often with 같이 (together): 친구하고 같이 가요 (I go with a friend). 친구랑 같이 is more casual. In writing, 친구와 함께 is common.