Hi everybody! Jae here. Welcome to Ask a Teacher, where I’ll answer some of your most common Korean questions.
The question for this lesson is…
What’s the difference between 이에요 (ieyo) and 예요 (yeyo)?
Both 이에요[ieyo] and 예요[yeyo] are used like the English verb "to be." So how do you know which one to use? The answer is actually pretty simple: If the last word of the sentence ends in a consonant, you add 이에요 (ieyo). If the last word ends in a vowel, you add 예요 (yeyo).
Let’s break it down with some examples so you know which ending to use and when to use it.
Let’s say you want to introduce your new friend, 민수[Minsu]. How would you say, “This is Minsu?” 민수[Minsu] ends in a vowel, so you'd say, 민수예요 [Minsuyeyo] with the 예요 (yeyo) ending.
Let’s do another example with the word, 선물[seonmul], which means “gift” or “present.” Imagine that you bought something for your friend—how would you say, “It’s a gift?” Since 선물[seonmul] ends in a consonant, you'd say, 선물이에요 [Seonmurieyo] with the 이에요 (ieyo) ending.
One final example would be where you use both. For example, you see a drink on the table, and you want to ask, “Is it juice or water?” The Korean word for “juice,” 주스[jeuseu], ends in a vowel, and the word for “water,” 물[mul], ends in a consonant. So what do you do? Here’s a hint. You have to ask two questions, one ending in 예요 (yeyo) and the other in 이에요 (ieyo). Do you know the answer? The answer is: 주스예요? 물이에요? [Jeuseuyeyo? Murieyo?].
Remember, even if you make a mistake, you'll still be able to get your point across. However, knowing the difference is a great way to improve how natural you sound in Korean!
How was this lesson? Pretty interesting, right?
Do you have any more questions? Leave them in the comments below and I’ll try to answer them!
See you next time. 다음 시간에 만나요. (Daeum-sigane mannayo.)
You can say, 이거 뭐예요?(What is this) / 과일이에요? (Is this fruit?)
Keep up the good work!
Kind regards,
Hyeon Yeong Seo
Team KoreanClass101.com
Kortney
Saturday at 04:06 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
This does help and I do understand but what will I say if I want to say what is this? Is this a........?
Will I say 뭐예요? 과일에요?
Kortney
Saturday at 03:58 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Thank you this DOES help.
KoreanClass101.com
Wednesday at 10:59 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hi KC,
Thanks for posting. When introducing names, you use:
예요 for names that end with vowels, and
이에요 for names that end with consonants.
에요 is not used.
Cheers,
Lyn
Team KoreanClass101.com
KC
Wednesday at 10:59 PM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hello! I hope you can help me out. When do we use 에요/이에요 and when do we not? What exactly does it mean?
I understand you use 에요/이에요 when ending an introductory phrase like 저는 셀레스트에요.
What other
words and phrases do I use it for? Thanks.
KoreanClass101.com
Wednesday at 12:22 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hi Bethany,
Thanks for posting. The difference depends on whether the word preceding the sentence ending ends with a consonant or a vowel. The word is usually a noun:
If it is a consonant you use 'ieyo': 사람이에요. (it is a person) 그림이에요. (it is a picture)
If it is a vowel you use 'yeyo': 강아지예요. (it is a puppy) 여자친구예요. (it is my girlfriend)
Hope this was of help.
Best,
Lyn
Team KoreanClass101.com
Bethany
Friday at 04:59 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
when exactly do you use ieyo and yeyo? I read on a website that it is only the descriptive word (adjective) that ends in ieyo or yeyo.
KoreanClass101.com
Thursday at 02:14 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hi Sevval,
Thanks for posting. This gets many people confused, but just remember the following two rules. When following a word that ends with a consonant(batchim), you use 이에요. For words that end with vowels you add 예요. 이예요 is incorrect as 예요 is the abbreviated version of 이에요.
So it would be 물이에요. 사과예요.
Cheers,
Lyn
Team KoreanClass101.com
Sevval
Wednesday at 07:37 PM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hi sometimes i saw it like 이예요 is it different grammar rules or what .
물이예요
KoreanClass101.com
Thursday at 08:59 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hello Rovie,
Thank you for commenting. The difference between “저는” and “나는" is the level of formality--the former is considered polite(humble), and the latter is considered informal.
Cheers,
Lyn
Team KoreanClass101.com
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Access Audio
Lesson Archives
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Access Video
Lesson Archives
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Download This
Audio Lesson
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Download This
Video Lesson
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Create Your Dashboard
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try the
Basic Lesson Check List
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try the
Premium Lesson Check List
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try the
Review Track
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try the Dialogue
Track
Create a FREE Lifetime Account to Access This Lesson’s Grammar Guide
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Personalize
Your Learning
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Personalize
Your Learning
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try the Kanji
Close Up
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try the PDF
Lesson Notes
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try the PDF
Lesson Transcript
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try This
Premium Feature
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try My
Notes
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try My
Flashcards
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try This Premium Feature
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try This Premium Feature
Create a Free Lifetime Account to Try This Premium Feature
High Definition Korean Video Lessons
Free Lifetime Account to Access Assignments
Audio Lesson Archives
Video Lesson Archives
Download Audio and Video Lessons
Download Audio and Video Lessons
Add Lesson to Dashboard
Basic Lesson Checklist
Premium Lesson Checklist
The Review Track
Dialogue Only Track
Grammar Guide
Mark This Lesson Complete
Mark This Lesson as Favorite
Kanji Close Up
PDF Lesson Notes
PDF Lesson Transcript
Pop Out Audio Player
My Notes
Flashcards
Control Audio Speed
Glorious Fullscreen Video
Read Along with Video Lesson Captions
High Definition Korean Video Lessons
Complete Assignments
Our team of Korean language specialists have been releasing new audio and video lessons weekly. That's a lot of Korean language learning! All new lessons are FREE for the first 3 weeks before going into our Basic and Premium Archive.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and unlock our entire lesson archive today!
Our team of Korean language specialists have been releasing new audio and video lessons weekly. That's a lot of Korean language learning! All lessons are free for the first 2 weeks before going into our Basic and Premium Archive.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and unlock our entire lesson archive today!
Want to learn offline or on-the-go? All our Audio and Video lessons can be easily downloaded with the click of a button. Load them onto your mobile device or simply listen offline from your computer. The choice is yours!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and start listening today!
Want to learn offline or on-the-go? All our Audio and Video lessons can be easily downloaded with the click of a button. Load them onto your mobile device or simply listen offline from your computer. The choice is yours!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and start listening today!
Customize your learning with your very own Dashboard. Get lesson recommendations suited for your level, track your progress and store your favorite lessons and series all in one convenient place.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and create your personalized Dashboard today!
Having trouble staying on track? The Basic Lesson Checklist will help you stay organized and committed to your Korean language goals!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and stay on the fast track to fluency with the Basic Lesson Checklist today!
Having trouble staying on track? The Premium Lesson Checklist will help you stay organized and committed to your Korean language goals!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and stay on the fast track to fluency with the Premium Lesson Checklist today!
Listen and repeat with the Review Track. Hear the lesson vocabulary and main phrases and repeat after the native speaker – it's the best way to perfect your pronunciation!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and start perfecting your pronunciation today!
Don't have enough time for an entire lesson today? Listen to the Dialogue Only Track to hear the native Dialogue. Listening to a little bit of Korean everyday, no matter how much, will greatly improve your listening comprehension. Guaranteed!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and unlock the power of the Dialogue Only Track today!
Access this Lesson’s Grammar Guide and unlock in-depth explanations, answers, examples, and a BONUS audio track.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.
Track your learning progress one lesson at a time! As you work your way through our lesson archives, we'll track your progress so you can see just how fast you're learning.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and to start your progress today!
Like this lesson? Want to listen again later? Mark this lesson as a favorite and create a handy shortcut in your Favorite Lesson list!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and start your learning today!
Take a closer look at the kanji characters used in the lesson Dialogue with the Kanji Close Up Practice Sheets! You'll learn the meaning, readings, and stroke order of each character. Plus, improve your writing with kanji stroke order practice sheets!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and master lesson kanji with the Kanji Close Up Practice Sheets today!
Follow along to our award winning lessons with detailed PDF Lesson Notes! These easy to print notes take a closer look at the grammar point and vocabulary words presented in the audio lesson. Plus, read more about Korean cultural topics related to the lesson.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and get even MORE Korean language help with the PDF Lesson Notes today!
Want to understand every single word and phrase you’ll hear in this lesson?
Here’s how: just access the complete PDF transcript and you’ll never miss a word. Get your FREE Lifetime Account and unlock this powerful study tool.
Like to multitask while you study? Pop out the Audio Player to play in the background while you work, play or follow along with our Premium Tools.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and start your learning today!
My Notes allows you to take notes while listening to our lessons. Come across an important verb conjugation breakthrough? Learn a handy mnemonic device? Make a note of it on the lessons pages and refer back to My Notes for quick reference!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and start taking notes with My Notes.
Add this wordlist to your Premium Smart Flashcard Study Decks for faster memorization.
Didn't catch that last word? Want to slow down the audio so you catch every single syllable? You can! All our audio files can be slowed down and sped up to match your speaking and listening needs.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and start your learning today!
Sit back and enjoy the KoreanClass101 video learning experience in all its fullscreen glory. Our Korean specialists are consistently producing and releasing new video series, with all lessons free for the first 2 weeks before going into our Basic and Premium Archive.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and unlock our entire lesson archive today!
Want to read along and FULLY understand the Korean in this lesson? Just turn on the Video Captions. You'll be able to read along as you watch – in Japanese or with English translations!
Improves reading, listening and comprehension skills – guaranteed!
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and start your learning today!
Unlock our high definition video lessons that get you speaking, reading, writing and understanding Korean in minutes. Clearer picture, clearer sound – all so you learn Korean without missing a beat.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and learn Korean with our fast, fun and easy video lessons.
How good is your Korean? Let’s find out! Test your language skills with assignments. Unlock interactive assignments that test you on all of the Korean you've learned so far.
Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and access your Assignments today!
Learn Korean in the fastest, easiest and most fun way
18 Comments
HideWhat Korean learning question do you have?
Hello Kortney,
Thanks for comment!
You can say, 이거 뭐예요?(What is this) / 과일이에요? (Is this fruit?)
Keep up the good work!
Kind regards,
Hyeon Yeong Seo
Team KoreanClass101.com
This does help and I do understand but what will I say if I want to say what is this? Is this a........?
Will I say 뭐예요? 과일에요?
Thank you this DOES help.
Hi KC,
Thanks for posting. When introducing names, you use:
예요 for names that end with vowels, and
이에요 for names that end with consonants.
에요 is not used.
Cheers,
Lyn
Team KoreanClass101.com
Hello! I hope you can help me out. When do we use 에요/이에요 and when do we not? What exactly does it mean?
I understand you use 에요/이에요 when ending an introductory phrase like 저는 셀레스트에요.
What other
words and phrases do I use it for? Thanks.
Hi Bethany,
Thanks for posting. The difference depends on whether the word preceding the sentence ending ends with a consonant or a vowel. The word is usually a noun:
If it is a consonant you use 'ieyo': 사람이에요. (it is a person) 그림이에요. (it is a picture)
If it is a vowel you use 'yeyo': 강아지예요. (it is a puppy) 여자친구예요. (it is my girlfriend)
Hope this was of help.
Best,
Lyn
Team KoreanClass101.com
when exactly do you use ieyo and yeyo? I read on a website that it is only the descriptive word (adjective) that ends in ieyo or yeyo.
Hi Sevval,
Thanks for posting. This gets many people confused, but just remember the following two rules. When following a word that ends with a consonant(batchim), you use 이에요. For words that end with vowels you add 예요. 이예요 is incorrect as 예요 is the abbreviated version of 이에요.
So it would be 물이에요. 사과예요.
Cheers,
Lyn
Team KoreanClass101.com
Hi sometimes i saw it like 이예요 is it different grammar rules or what .
물이예요
Hello Rovie,
Thank you for commenting. The difference between “저는” and “나는" is the level of formality--the former is considered polite(humble), and the latter is considered informal.
Cheers,
Lyn
Team KoreanClass101.com