-아/어 (반말)

Casual speech (반말): the polite -아/어요 without 요. Used with close friends, people of the same age or younger once you have agreed, and children.

문장 끝·말투Endings & speech style

Han: You never speak 반말 to a teacher; use the polite 이에요/예요 form.

Examples

응, 나 지금 학교에 가.Yeah, I’m going to school now.

이거 내 거야. 네 거 아니야.This is mine. It’s not yours.

우리 동갑인데 말 놓을까요?We’re the same age — shall we drop the formalities?

민지야, 지금 뭐 해?Minji, what are you doing now?

polite -아/어요 minus 요 → -아/어 · N+이야 (after a consonant) / 야 (after a vowel)

먹어요 → 먹어, 가요 → 가, 했어요 → 했어, 갈 거예요 → 갈 거야; 학생이에요 → 학생이야, 친구예요 → 친구야, 아니에요 → 아니야

Drop 요 from the 해요 form: 먹어, 가, 좋아, 했어, 갈 거야. For nouns 이에요/예요 becomes 이야/야, and 아니에요 becomes 아니야.
One form works for statements, questions, commands and suggestions; intonation decides: 밥 먹어. / 밥 먹어? / 빨리 와!
Words change too: 저 → 나, 제가 → 내가, 저희 → 우리, 네 → 응, 아니요 → 아니; 'you' is 너, 네가 (in speech often 니가).
Switch to 반말 only after agreeing (우리 말 놓을까요?). Never use it with elders, teachers, strangers, customers or at work unless invited — it sounds rude.

Wrong: ~~선생님, 이거 뭐야?~~

Right: 선생님, 이거 뭐예요?

You never speak 반말 to a teacher; use the polite 이에요/예요 form.

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.