와/과
wa / gwa
and / with (formal/written)
하고
hago
and / with (spoken/casual)
와/과 vs 하고: How to Say "And" and "With" in Korean
와/과 (wa/gwa) and 하고 (hago) both connect nouns meaning "and" or "with," but 와/과 belongs to formal and written Korean while 하고 is the natural choice in spoken, everyday conversation.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 와/과 (wa / gwa) | 하고 (hago) | |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Formal, written Korean (official documents, news, essays) | Casual, spoken Korean (conversation, texting) |
| Attachment Rule | 와 after a vowel-ending noun; 과 after a consonant-ending noun | 하고 attaches to any noun regardless of ending |
| Meaning | Connects nouns (A and B) or marks accompaniment (with A) | Connects nouns (A and B) or marks accompaniment (with A) |
| Another Casual Option | — | 랑/이랑 is even more casual: 친구랑 갔어 (went with a friend) |
| Example | 사과와 배 (apple and pear) / 친구과 함께 (with a friend — note: 친구와) | 사과하고 배 / 친구하고 갔어 (went with a friend) |
Examples in Context
Writing a formal report listing items — using 와/과
이 연구는 장점과 단점을 분석합니다.
This study analyzes the advantages and disadvantages.
Formal invitation listing attendees — using 와/과
사장님과 직원들이 함께 참석했습니다.
The president and the employees attended together.
Telling a friend who you had lunch with — using 하고
오늘 민수하고 점심 먹었어.
I had lunch with Minsu today.
Casually listing what you bought — using 하고
우유하고 빵하고 과자 샀어.
I bought milk, bread, and snacks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Using 과 after a vowel-ending noun — 사과과 is wrong; use 사과와 because 사과 ends in a vowel
- ✗Using 와/과 in casual texting or speech — it sounds overly stiff; 하고 or 랑/이랑 is more natural
- ✗Using 하고 in formal written contexts such as academic papers or news — 와/과 is the correct choice there
- ✗Thinking you must list every item with the particle — in casual speech it is common to say just the last connection: 사과, 배하고 포도 샀어
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 하고 and 랑/이랑?
All three are casual spoken particles. 하고 is slightly more neutral, while 랑/이랑 is the most colloquial. 이랑 is used after consonant-ending nouns, 랑 after vowel-ending nouns. In practice they are interchangeable in daily speech.
How do I choose between 와 and 과?
If the noun ends in a vowel, add 와: 나라와 (country and). If the noun ends in a consonant, add 과: 책과 (book and). This is the only phonological rule for this pair.
Can 하고 also mean something else?
Yes. 하고 can appear as the connective form of 하다, meaning "do and then" in verb chains: 공부하고 잤어 (I studied and then slept). Context makes the meaning clear.
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