어른

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Korean

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Etymology

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First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 얼〯운〮 (Yale: ělGwún).

Etymologically from the verb root 얼ㅇ (Yale: èlG-, “to have sex; to copulate; to marry”) and the gerundive suffix (Yale: -wún): "one who is married/has sex" (Lee and Ramsey 2011, p. 233). Alternatively from the related 얼우 (Yale: elGwu-, “to marry (off)”) and the same suffix: "one who is married". No longer perceived as such by modern speakers, as the source verbs are obsolete.

Pronunciation

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  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈɘ(ː)ɾɯn]
  • Phonetic hangul: [(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?eoreun
Revised Romanization (translit.)?eoleun
McCune–Reischauer?ŏrŭn
Yale Romanization?ēlun
  • South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: / 어 / 어

    Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch only on the second syllable, and also heightens the subsequent suffixed syllable.

Noun

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어른 (eoreun)

  1. grownup, adult, elder, senior
    Synonyms: (both formal) 성인(成人) (seong'in), 대인(大人) (daein)
    Antonyms: (ae), 아이 (ai), (polite) 어린이 (eorini)
    어른 이야기한단다.Eoreun-deur-i iyagihandanda.The adults are talking.
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Middle Korean

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Pronunciation

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Adverb

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어른 (èlùn)

  1. quickly, at once
    • 1459, 月印釋譜 / 월인석보 [Worin seokbo], page Preface 2b:
      (펴ᇙ〮)은〮 누네〮 어른 디〯날 ᄊᆞᅀᅵ〮오〮
      PYÉLQ-ún nwùn-éy èlùn tǐnàl.s-sòzí-wó
      [The Chinese word] (piē) means, "the interval of something passing quickly before the eyes."

Descendants

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  • Korean: 얼른 (eolleun)