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
친구하고 같이 갔어요.
I went together with a friend.
커피랑 케이크 주세요.
Coffee and cake, please.
한국과 일본은 가까워요.
Korea and Japan are close to each other.
동생이랑 영화를 봤어요.
I watched a film with my younger sibling.
빵하고 우유를 샀어요.
I bought bread and milk.
부모님과 함께 살아요.
I live with my parents.
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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