-을

See also: 을

Jeju

Alternative forms

ㄹ (-l) (after a vowel)
를 (-reul) (rare, formal, after a vowel)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ɨɭ]

Particle

을 (-eul)

indicates the direct object of a verb
시리레 ᄀᆞ를 담으라.
sirire gawreul dam-eura.
Put the flour into the steamer.

Usage notes

을 (-eul) is used after a word ending with a consonant. If the preceding word ends in a vowel, ㄹ (-l) is used instead.

Korean

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɯɭ]
Phonetic hangul: [을]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	eul
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	eul
McCune–Reischauer^?	ŭl
Yale Romanization^?	ul

Etymology 1

From Middle Korean 을〮/ᄋᆞᆯ〮 (Yale: -úl/ól), from Old Korean 乙 (*-ur) in the early second millennium, from even earlier 肹 in the late first millennium. The post-vocalic form 를 (-reul) is probably formed by pre-Middle Korean reduplication, with the original form ㄹ (-l) now relegated to colloquial speech.

Alternative forms

를 (-reul) – after vowels
ㄹ (-l) – after vowels, colloquial

Particle

을 • (-eul)

The accusative particle, indicating the direct object of a verb.
너를 사랑했어. ― neo-reul sarang-haesseo. ― I loved you.
사람을 살리다 ― saram-eul sallida ― to save a person
꽃을 보다 ― kkot-eul boda ― to see a flower
부산을 가다 ― busan-eul gada ― to go to Busan
공부를 하다 ― gongbu-reul hada ― to study
컨닝을 하다 ― keonning-eul hada ― to cheat on a test
In "long negation" constructions with 지 (-ji), attaches to the negated verb to add emphasis.
아기는 울지를 않았다. ― agi-neun ulji-reul anatda. ― The baby did not cry.
배구 선수는 공을 놓지지를 않았다. ― baegu seonsu-neun gong-eul nochiji-reul anatda. ― The volleyball player did not lose the ball.
(southern Gyeongsang) Indicates the indirect object of a verb.
Synonyms: 한테 (-hante), 에게 (-ege)

Usage notes

Note that Korean verbal transitivity can differ from the English equivalent. In particular, verbs of motion can take direct objects, and most compound verbs with 하다 (hada) function as transitive verbs where the meaningful element is a noun which is the direct object of 하다 (hada).
Korean case-marking particles can be omitted if the case is obvious from context; in such cases, the particle has an emphatic sense.
를 (-reul) can occur after the locative particle 에 (-e) and the instrumental particle 으로 (-euro).

Etymology 2

From Middle Korean 으ᇙ/ᄋᆞᇙ (Yale: -ulq/olq), from Old Korean 尸 (*-(u)lq).

In Old Korean, a (perhaps the) primary function of this suffix was to form verbal gerunds that could function as nouns, much as English -ing-forms serve as both independent nouns and to attribute nouns adjectivally; this nominalizing usage was only vestigial in Middle Korean and is wholly defunct today.

Alternative forms

ㄹ (-l) – after vowels

Suffix

을 • (-eul)

A verbal and adjectival irrealis adnominal suffix; generally equivalent to English "that [one] will" or "who [one] will", but not always with a future meaning; indicates the future intention of the subject, the inference of the subject about an event (whether past, present, or future), a general timeless fact, something that ought to be done, etc.
Coordinate term: 은 (-eun, realis/past adnominal suffix)
파티에 올 사람들
pati-e ol saramdeul
the people who are going to come to the party
친구에게 줄 선물
chin'gu-ege jul seonmul
the gift that I will give to my friend
죽일 놈
jukil nom
the bastard who ought to be killed
(literally, “the bastard who [people] ought to kill”)
비가 올 때 이 거리는 잠긴다.
bi-ga ol ttae i geori-neun jamginda.
At times when it rains, this street is submerged.
목발은 못 걸을 때 사용한다.
mokbar-eun mot geoleul ttae sayonghanda.
You use crutches when you can't walk.
차가웠을 물
chagawoteul mul
water which should have been cold; water which I predict was cold

Usage notes

Compare the realis/irrealis contrast:
차가웠던 물
chagawot-deon mul
water which was [factually] cold
차가웠을 물
chagawot-eul mul
water which should have been cold; water which I predict was cold

Related terms

으리 (-euri)
으리라 (-eurira)
을 것 같다 (-eul geot gatda)
을 것이다 (-eul geosida)
을게 (-eulge)
을까 (-eulkka)
을지 (-eulji)

Middle Korean

Etymology

From Old Korean 乙 (*-(u)r).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɨl/

Particle

Ablaut/harmonic pair
Yin-form	을〮 (-úl)
Yang-form	ᄋᆞᆯ〮 (-ól)

을〮 (-úl)

Accusative case marker.

Alternative forms

를〮 (-lúl), ᄅᆞᆯ〮 (-lól) – after vowels
ㄹ (-l) – after vowels, variant

Descendants

Korean: 을 (eul)