-아

Korean

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [a̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [아]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	a
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	a
McCune–Reischauer?	a
Yale Romanization?	a

Etymology 1

From Middle Korean -아〮 (Yale: -á), from Old Korean 良 (*-a).

Suffix

Ablaut/harmonic pair

Yin-form	-어 (-eo)
Yang-form	아 (-a)

-아 • (-a)

1. Yang-vowel form of -어 (-eo, versatile verbal infinitive suffix)

Usage notes

• See Usage notes at -어.

Etymology 2

From Middle Korean -아〮 (Yale: -á), from Old Korean 良 (*-a).

Particle

-아 • (-a)

1. hey; vocative particle for those of lower or equal status than the speaker, such as children; used after consonants.

   Coordinate term: -이여 (-iyeo, formal honorific vocative)

   멍멍아, 어디 있니? ― meongmeong-a, eodi in-ni? ― Doggy, where are you?

   선민아, 너 오늘 뭐 해? ― seonmin-a, neo oneul mwo hae? ― Hey Seonmin, what are your plans today?

Usage notes

• The vocative particle causes the noun-attaching -이 (-i) to drop out.

Alternative forms

• -야 (-ya) — used after vowels

Etymology 3

See the main entry.

Particle

-아 • (-a)

1. Gyeongsang form of -에 (-e, “at, to”)