ㄹ

Stroke order

Korean

Alternative forms

• For suffix, after consonant: 을 (eul)

Etymology 1

The traditional account* holds that the form of ㄹ l is the outline of the tongue, 舌 […] 之形, but does not specify what this means. Gari Ledyard proposes that it was a graphic simplification of Phagspa l, ultimately from Tibetan ལ l, though the iconic considerations of the traditional account may have determined the form that this simplification took.

* Hunmin Jeongeum Haerye "Explanations and Examples of the Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People" (1446), defining and explaining the script now known as 한글 (Hangeul, “Great script, Korean script”) in South Korea and 조선글 (joseon'geul, “Korean script”) in North Korea.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /l/, [ɾ], [l], [ɭ]
• Phonetic hangul: ㄹ

Romanization

Revised	r, l
McCune–Reischauer	r, l	Yale	l

Symbol

ㄹ (r)

1. 리을 (rieul), a letter of the Korean writing system, hangeul; the alveolar flap or approximant (IPA^(key): [ɾ], [l])

Usage notes

In the North Korean order, it is the fourth jamo. In the South Korean order, it is the sixth.

See also

• Alveolar consonants: ㄴ (n), ㄷ (d), ㄸ (tt), ㅌ (t), ㅅ (s), ㅆ (ss)
• Nasal stops: ㅁ (m), ㅇ (ng)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /l/
• Phonetic hangul: ㄹ

Romanization

Revised	l
McCune–Reischauer	l	Yale	l

Suffix

ㄹ (l)

1. that will; who will

   (suffix forming future determiner)

Usage notes

-ㄹ (l) is appended to the vowel-ending stem of a verb to form the future determiner. If the stem ends in a consonant, -을 (eul) is used instead. Similar to a future participle, the future determiner indicates that the referent of the following substantive will perform the action described by the verb to which ㄹ (l) is attached:

• 가다 (gada, “to go”): 가 (ga) + ㄹ (l): 갈 (gal, “that/who will go”)