-아
Korean
Pronunciation
- (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [a̠]
- Phonetic hangul: [아]
| Romanizations | |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization? | a |
| Revised Romanization (translit.)? | a |
| McCune–Reischauer? | a |
| Yale Romanization? | a |
Etymology 1
From Middle Korean 아〮 (Yale: -á), from Old Korean 良 (*-a).
Suffix
| Yin-form | 어 (-eo) |
|---|---|
| Yang-form | 아 (-a) |
아 • (-a)
- Yang-vowel form of 어 (-eo, versatile verbal infinitive suffix).
Usage notes
- See Usage notes at 어.
Etymology 2
From Middle Korean 아〮 (Yale: -á), from Old Korean 良 (*-a).
Particle
아 • (-a)
- hey; vocative particle for those of lower or equal status than the speaker, such as children; used after consonants.
- Coordinate term: 이여 (-iyeo, formal honorific vocative)
- 멍멍아, 어디 있니? ― meongmeong-a, eodi in-ni? ― Doggy, where are you?
- 선민아, 너 오늘 뭐 해? ― seonmin-a, neo oneul mwo hae? ― Hey Seonmin, what are your plans today?
Usage notes
- The vocative particle causes the noun-attaching 이 (-i) to drop out.
Alternative forms
- 야 (-ya) – used after vowels
Etymology 3
See the main entry.
Particle
아 • (-a)
- Gyeongsang form of 에 (-e, “at, to”)