와/과, 하고, (이)랑
and, with
Three ways to join two nouns or to say who you did something with. They mean the same thing and differ only in how formal they sound.
Build it
Pick a noun
When to use it
All three link nouns: 빵과 우유, 빵하고 우유, 빵이랑 우유 all mean bread and milk. They also mark the companion in an action: 친구하고 영화를 봤어요.
The choice is about register, not meaning. 와/과 is the written and formal option, and it is the only one that changes shape by consonant. 하고 sits in the middle and is safe almost anywhere. (이)랑 is casual and warm — fine with friends, out of place in a report.
Two cautions. This family joins nouns only; to join two clauses you need -고. And when you mean “together with,” Korean usually adds 같이 or 함께: 친구하고 같이 갔어요.
How to attach it
| Form | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 과 — after a consonant | formal, written | 빵과 우유 |
| 와 — after a vowel | formal, written | 우유와 빵 |
| 하고 | neutral, spoken | 친구하고 갔어요 |
| 이랑 — after a consonant | casual | 밥이랑 김치 |
| 랑 — after a vowel | casual | 커피랑 빵 |
| With 같이 / 함께 | together with | 친구하고 같이 갔어요 |
In use
아침에 빵과 우유를 먹었습니다.
I had bread and milk in the morning.
주말에 친구하고 영화를 봤어요.
I watched a movie with a friend at the weekend.
저는 김치랑 밥을 제일 좋아해요.
I like kimchi and rice best.
동생이랑 같이 시장에 갔어요.
I went to the market together with my younger sibling.
한국어와 일본어를 배우고 있어요.
I’m learning Korean and Japanese.
누구하고 같이 살아요?
Who do you live with?
Compared with
-고
Use this family to join nouns and -고 to join clauses. English “and” covers both, which is why learners reach for the wrong one.
빵하고 우유를 샀어요. (bought bread and milk) / 빵을 사고 집에 갔어요. (bought bread and went home)
Register
Same sentence, three levels. Match the particle to the setting rather than picking a favourite.
친구와 갔습니다. (report) / 친구하고 갔어요. (everyday) / 친구랑 갔어. (with friends)
(으)로
Both can render English “with,” but they mean different things. This family gives the companion; (으)로 gives the tool or material.
친구하고 만들었어요. (made it with a friend) / 손으로 만들었어요. (made it with my hands)
Watch out
빵을 사고 우유를 샀어요. — meaning “bread and milk”
빵하고 우유를 샀어요.
-고 chains two actions. To join two nouns inside one action, use 와/과, 하고, or (이)랑.
빵와 우유
빵과 우유
와/과 is the only member of the family that changes by consonant, and the pattern runs opposite to 이/가: 과 goes after a consonant, 와 after a vowel.
보고서를 친구랑 썼습니다.
보고서를 친구와 썼습니다.
(이)랑 is casual and clashes with the formal -습니다 ending. Keep the register consistent across the sentence.
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