(이)랑 and with Particle: Meaning, Rules and Examples

What you'll learn

• Attach 랑 or 이랑 to a noun, depending on its last sound.
• Say "A and B" and "with A" in a casual, friendly tone.
• Use 나랑, 너랑 and 저랑 correctly with pronouns.
• Decide when (이)랑 is too casual and 와/과 or 하고 is better.

Before you start: you should know the neutral particle in 하고 and with particle. Time: about 20 minutes.

What Does the (이)랑 and with Particle Mean?

The (이)랑 and with particle means "and" when it joins two nouns and "with" when the first noun is a companion in an action. A particle (조사, josa) is a short word that attaches to the end of a noun and shows its job in the sentence. The parentheses in (이)랑 mean that the 이 is present only after some nouns.

(이)랑 is the casual member of a trio. 와/과 is formal and written, 하고 is neutral and spoken, and (이)랑 is relaxed and spoken. All three mean the same thing, so the difference is how the sentence sounds to the listener. Between friends, 친구랑 sounds natural, while 친구와 sounds like a written report.

Register is the level of formality of a word or style. Korean speakers adjust register all day, and the particle for "and" or "with" is one of the places where it shows.

A First Example

Listen to each sentence at normal speed, then slowly.

1. 친구랑 가요. (chingurang gayo) "I go with a friend."

Pronunciation: [친구랑 가요]. The spelling and the sound match. 친구 (friend) ends in the vowel ㅜ, so the particle is 랑. The verb 가요 is the polite form of 가다 ("to go").

2. 밥이랑 국을 먹었어요. (babirang gugeul meogeosseoyo) "I ate rice and soup."

Pronunciation: [바비랑 구글 머거써요]. The noun 밥 (rice) ends in the consonant ㅂ, so the particle is 이랑. The final ㅂ moves onto the 이, so 밥이랑 sounds like [바비랑]. The object particle 을 attaches to 국 (soup), the last noun, and 국을 sounds like [구글].

One sentence used 랑 and the other used 이랑. The rule that decides between them is next.

How Does the (이)랑 and with Particle Work?

The (이)랑 and with particle works by checking the last sound of the noun. After a vowel it takes 랑. After a consonant (a final consonant, called 받침, batchim) it takes 이랑. The extra 이 gives the consonant a vowel to move onto, which keeps the sound smooth.

Because the 이 links the noun to the particle, the final consonant is pronounced as if it began the next syllable. Hangul spelling keeps the noun's letters unchanged, so 밥이랑 is written with ㅂ in 밥 but sounds like [바비랑].

Pattern Table

Three details make the table easy to apply.

1. ㄹ counts as a consonant. The particle (으)로 has a special rule for ㄹ, but (이)랑 does not. Say 물이랑, not 물랑.
2. Pronouns use 랑. The pronouns 나, 너 and 저 end in vowels, so they take 랑: 나랑, 너랑, 저랑. Do not contract them to 내랑 or 네랑.
3. Other particles go on the last noun. In "A and B" the subject, topic or object particle sits after B only: 밥이랑 국을 먹었어요, not 밥을이랑 국을.

Why two forms? A noun that ends in a consonant would otherwise run straight into the ㄹ of 랑 and leave two consonants side by side (밥 + 랑), so Korean inserts the vowel 이 to carry the consonant across. The same idea appears in other particles, for example 이/가 and 은/는. A learner who remembers the reason does not need to memorize a list of nouns: any final consonant calls for 이.

After the form, the next section builds a full sentence one piece at a time.

Worked Example: Building 밥이랑 국을 먹었어요

To say "I ate rice and soup", write 밥이랑 국을 먹었어요. Put the first food with 이랑 attached, then the second food with its object particle, then the verb. Use these steps to build any "A and B" sentence.

1. Choose the meaning. The meaning is "and", because rice and soup are two foods eaten together.
2. Look at the last sound of the first noun. 밥 ends in the consonant ㅂ.
3. Pick the form. A consonant takes 이랑: 밥이랑.
4. Add the second noun and its particle. 국 ends in ㄱ, so the object particle is 을: 국을.
5. Finish with the verb. The past polite form of 먹다 ("to eat") is 먹었어요.

You'll know it worked when the first noun carries 이랑, only the last noun carries the object particle, and the verb comes last. Common mistake at this step: writing 밥랑 because the vowel-form 랑 is shorter. After a consonant, the form is 이랑.

For a casual sentence, drop the polite 요: 밥이랑 국을 먹었어. The particle does not change; only the verb ending does. The lesson on how to make banmal casual speech covers the full set of casual endings.

How Is (이)랑 Different from 하고 and 와/과?

(이)랑, 하고 and 와/과 all mean "and" or "with". They differ in register and in shape. (이)랑 is casual, 하고 is neutral and 와/과 is formal.

The meaning stays the same in all three examples: "I went with my younger sibling". Only the tone changes. The neighbouring lessons explain the other two particles: 하고 and with particle and 와/과 and with particle. The comparison page 와/과 vs 하고 vs (이)랑 gives a decision rule for all three.

An expert rule of thumb: match the particle to the ending. A casual ending such as 갔어 pairs well with (이)랑, a polite ending such as 갔어요 pairs with 하고 or (이)랑, and a formal ending such as 갔습니다 pairs with 와/과. After the choice between the particles, the next section covers pronouns and lists.

When Do You Use (이)랑, and When Not?

Use (이)랑 for everyday talk with people you know well, and avoid it in formal writing. Five patterns cover most of what you will hear.

1. Doing something together. 친구랑 영화를 봐요 means "I watch a movie with a friend". Adding 같이 ("together") is common: 친구랑 같이 가요.
2. Listing items. 우유랑 빵을 샀어요 means "I bought milk and bread". The object particle goes on the last noun.
3. Pronouns. The forms below combine a pronoun with 랑 without any contraction.

4. Asking who or what. The question word 누구 ("who") takes 랑 like any noun: 누구랑 가요? ([누구랑 가요], "Who are you going with?"). The answer pattern is 친구랑 가요. Question words are covered in the Korean questions hub.
5. Repeating 랑 after each noun. In very casual speech, 랑 follows both nouns: 나랑 너랑 같이 가자 means "You and I, let's go together". This pattern is common in chat with friends. Formal writing avoids it.

Particles can also stack after (이)랑. Adding 도 gives 친구랑도 ("with a friend too"). The auxiliary particle (이)나 ("or") looks similar to (이)랑 but has a different job, covered in (이)나 or particle.

Honest limits of (이)랑.

• Formal writing. Essays, reports and business e-mails use 와/과. A sentence such as 팀이랑 회의를 했습니다 in an e-mail to a manager sounds too friendly, and 팀과 회의를 했습니다 is expected.
• Verbs and clauses. (이)랑 joins nouns only. Verbs join with the ending -고: 먹고 마셔요.
• Hierarchy. Between a student and a teacher, 선생님하고 is safer in speech than 선생님이랑, although both are heard.

These limits lead directly to the errors learners make most often.

What Mistakes Do Learners Make with (이)랑?

Five mistakes cover most errors. Each follows the pattern "learners often assume X, but actually Y, because Z."

1. Using 이랑 after a vowel. Learners often write 친구이랑 because 이랑 looks like the "main" form. Actually 친구 ends in a vowel, so the connecting 이 is not needed: 친구랑.
2. Using 랑 after a consonant. Learners often write 밥랑 because 랑 is shorter. Actually a consonant needs the vowel 이 to carry it: 밥이랑.
3. Contracting the pronoun. Learners often write 내랑 because 내 means "my". Actually the plain pronoun 나 does not contract with 랑, so the form is 나랑. The contraction 내 comes from 나 + 의, covered in the lesson on Korean possessive pronouns 내 제 네.
4. Using (이)랑 in a formal text. Learners often use it in an e-mail to a professor or manager because it works in conversation. Actually formal text calls for 와/과, so write 교수님과 상담했습니다 ("I consulted with the professor").
5. Putting the object particle on both nouns. Learners often say 밥을이랑 국을. Actually (이)랑 already links the nouns, so only the last one takes 을: 밥이랑 국을.

A reliable self-check: say the noun aloud, listen for a final consonant, and then choose 이랑 or 랑.

Practice and Answers

Try all four items before you read the answers. Each answer has audio, normal and slow.

1. Choose the form. Fill the blank with 랑 or 이랑: 책( ) 가방을 샀어요. ("I bought a book and a bag.")
2. Fix the error. 내랑 영화 봐요. ("Watch a movie with me.")
3. Translate. "I drink milk and juice." Use (이)랑.
4. Write your own. Write one sentence saying you eat or drink something with a friend, using (이)랑.

Answer Key

1. 책이랑 가방을 샀어요. (chaegirang gabangeul sasseoyo) Sounds like [채기랑 가방을 사써요]. 책 ends in the consonant ㄱ, so the form is 이랑.

2. 나랑 영화 봐요. (narang yeonghwa bwayo) "Watch a movie with me." Sounds like [나랑 영화 봐요]. The pronoun 나 plus 랑 does not contract, so 내랑 is replaced by 나랑.

3. 우유랑 주스를 마셔요. (uyurang juseureul masyeoyo) Sounds like [우유랑 주스를 마셔요]. 우유 (milk) ends in a vowel, so the form is 랑, and the object particle 를 goes on 주스.

4. Sample answer: 친구랑 커피를 마셔요. (chingurang keopireul masyeoyo) "I drink coffee with a friend." Sounds like [친구랑 커피를 마셔요]. Any sentence with a friend plus the correct form of (이)랑 is acceptable.

If an item went wrong, return to the pattern table and say each noun aloud. Then continue with the next lessons.

Next Lessons and Where to Go from Here

After the (이)랑 and with particle, the next lesson is the comparison 와/과 vs 하고 vs (이)랑, which turns the three particles into one decision rule. For the formal member of the trio, read 와/과 and with particle, and for the neutral one, review 하고 and with particle. All of them belong to the possessive and linking particles set.

For practice, use the grammar quizzes. This page uses Revised Romanization only as a learning aid; the Hangul is the reference. The whole lesson fits in one sentence: the (이)랑 and with particle is the casual "and" and "with", and it takes 랑 after a vowel and 이랑 after a consonant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does (이)랑 Mean?

(이)랑 is a casual particle meaning "and" between two nouns or "with" a companion. 친구랑 가요 means "I go with a friend", and 밥이랑 국 means "rice and soup". It sounds relaxed and friendly, so it fits conversations with friends, family and classmates.

How Do I Form (이)랑?

Look at the last sound of the noun. After a vowel, add 랑: 친구랑, 엄마랑. After a consonant, add 이랑: 밥이랑, 선생님이랑. The ㄹ final also takes 이랑, so say 물이랑. With pronouns, use 나랑, 너랑 and 저랑, never the contracted 내랑.

What Is the Most Common Mistake with (이)랑?

The most common mistake is using the wrong form for the last sound: 친구이랑 after a vowel or 밥랑 after a consonant. A second mistake is using (이)랑 in formal writing or a business e-mail, where 와/과 is expected and (이)랑 reads as too chatty.

How Is (이)랑 Different from 하고 and 와/과?

All three mean "and" or "with". (이)랑 is casual and spoken, 하고 is neutral and spoken, and 와/과 is formal and written. (이)랑 and 와/과 change shape with the final sound of the noun, but 하고 stays the same. Pick by situation, because the meaning is identical.

Do I Use (이)랑 in Speech, Writing or Both?

Mostly speech. Chat messages, text messages and diaries use (이)랑 naturally, because they copy speech. Formal essays, reports and business e-mails use 와/과 instead. With polite endings (-아요/-어요), (이)랑 is still natural between acquaintances, so 친구랑 가요 is a normal sentence.