Key Facts
- Hangul: 게으르다 (geeureuda)
- Meaning: lazy
- Level: A2
- Part of speech: adjective
- Stem: 게으르
- Conjugation class: 르-irregular
- Grammar: The lazy person takes 이/가 or 은/는, as in 동생은 주말에 너무 게을러요.
- Usage: Everyday word, often said about yourself or a family member.
What Does 게으르다 Mean?
게으르다 describes a person who dislikes working or moving, as in 게으른 사람 (a lazy person). It is a judgement about attitude: the lazy person could act and does not feel like it.
People most often use it about themselves or a sibling, so expect it in light self-teasing. A playful noun is 게으름뱅이 (lazybones), made by adding 뱅이.
How Do You Pronounce 게으르다?
The dictionary form has no special sound change, but the first two syllables are separate vowels (ge-eu), so keep a small break between them. The formal present 게으릅니다 is read [게으름니다] because ㅂ turns into ㅁ before ㄴ. The past stem 게을렀- ends the syllable in ㄹ+ㅆ, so the formal past 게을렀습니다 is [게을럳씀니다].
How Do You Use 게으르다 in a Sentence?
동생은 주말에 너무 게을러요.
My younger sibling is too lazy on weekends.
동생은 is the topic and 너무 adds 'too much'; the polite present 게을러요 has the doubled ㄹ.
저는 어릴 때 게을렀어요.
I was lazy when I was little.
어릴 때 means 'when I was little', so the past 게을렀어요 describes a childhood habit.
게을러서 숙제를 못 했어요.
I was lazy, so I couldn't do my homework.
게을러서 gives the reason: because of laziness the homework was not done. The spaced 못 했어요 says the homework did not get done.
How Does Geeureuda Conjugation Work?
This is a 르-irregular adjective. Before 아/어 the ㅡ of 르 drops and the ㄹ doubles, so 게으르- becomes 게을러요, 게을렀어요 and 게을러서. Before consonants and 으-endings nothing changes: 게으르지, 게으르면, 게으른, 게으릅니다. Compare 모르다, which becomes 몰라요 in the same way. There is no want-to row, because -고 싶다 suits verbs.
게으르다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 게을러요 | ||
| Polite past | 게을렀어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 게으를 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 게으르겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 게으릅니다 | ||
| Formal past | 게을렀습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 게으를 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 게을러 | ||
| Casual past | 게을렀어 | ||
| Casual future | 게으를 거야 | ||
| Honorific polite | 게으르세요 | ||
| Because / and then | 게을러서 | ||
| If (conditional) | 게으르면 | ||
| Present modifier (before a noun) | 게으른 | ||
| Past modifier (before a noun) | 게을렀던 | ||
| Future modifier (before a noun) | 게으를 | ||
| Negative with 안 (short) | 안 게을러요 | ||
| Negative (long form) | 게으르지 않아요 |
Sound Changes
| Form | Korean | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Polite past | 게을렀어요 | [게을러써요] |
| Polite future | 게으를 거예요 | [게으를꺼예요] |
| Polite future guess | 게으르겠어요 | [게으르게써요] |
| Formal present | 게으릅니다 | [게으름니다] |
| Formal past | 게을렀습니다 | [게을럳씀니다] |
| Formal future | 게으를 것입니다 | [게으를꺼심니다] |
| Casual past | 게을렀어 | [게을러써] |
| Casual future | 게으를 거야 | [게으를꺼야] |
| Past modifier | 게을렀던 | [게을럳떤] |
| Long negative | 게으르지 않아요 | [게으르지 아나요] |
게으르다 Forms to Reach for First
- Politely (lazy): 게을러요
- Earlier, in the past (lazy): 게을렀어요
- Giving the reason (lazy): 게을러서
- If the condition holds (lazy): 게으르면
- Before a noun (lazy): 게으른, or 게을렀던 for the past
- Denying it (lazy): 게으르지 않아요
- Honorific, about a respected person (lazy): 게으르세요
Common Mistake
Wrong: ✗ 게으러요
Correct: ✓ 게을러요
Why: Because the stem ends in 르, learners drop the final ㅡ and forget the extra ㄹ, producing 게으러요. The extra ㄹ has to be added before the 아/어 ending.
When Does 게으르다 Fit Best?
Use 게으르다 for habitual unwillingness to make effort. For someone who is simply tired that afternoon, 피곤하다 explains the lack of energy more precisely. 게으르다 can describe temporary behaviour too, but it judges effort rather than fatigue.
What Is Easy to Confuse with 게으르다?
| Word | How to tell it from 게으르다 |
|---|---|
| 부지런하다 | The direct opposite: 부지런하다 means hardworking and always active, while 게으르다 means avoiding effort. |
| 느리다 | 느리다 means slow in speed; 게으르다 is about attitude and unwillingness. A slow person is not necessarily 게으른. |
Joking about Weekend Chores
Two friends are comparing how little housework they did. Each includes themselves in the joke. This makes the exchange warmer than calling a stranger lazy. The three target forms are 게을러요, 게을러서 and 게으른.
Mina
저는 주말에 좀 게을러요.
Jeoneun jumare jom geeulleoyo.
I’m a bit lazy on weekends.
Jisu
저도 어제 게을러서 청소를 안 했어요.
Jeodo eoje geeulleoseo cheongsoreul an haesseoyo.
I was lazy yesterday too, so I didn’t clean.
Mina
그럼 우리 둘 다 게으른 사람이네요.
Geureom uri dul da geeureun saramineyo.
Then we’re both lazy people, aren’t we?
좀 makes Mina's self-description less blunt. Jisu uses 게을러서 to connect laziness to the missed cleaning. The last line turns the description into 게으른 사람, “a lazy person”. It is deliberately playful between friends; the same label in a performance review would sound critical.
Which Phrases Express Laziness Naturally?
게으름을 피우다 means “to be lazy” or “to idle instead of working”. 게으름 is the noun “laziness”. The phrase often focuses on a spell of avoiding work, such as putting off chores. It is a set expression: translating 피우다 separately as “bloom” or “smoke” will not explain the phrase's meaning here.
게으른 사람 describes a lazy person, while 게으른 습관 describes a lazy habit. The second points towards behaviour that can change. The first can sound like a judgement about the whole person. When explaining a missed task, naming the behaviour is often clearer than assigning a character label.
게으름뱅이 means “lazybones”. Its playful English translation can make it sound safer than it is. Close friends or family may use it in teasing, but it can also insult someone. It is a label for a person, so avoid using it for a coworker simply because they took a break.
Where Will You Hear 게으르다?
Casual conversations about weekends, homework and chores are natural settings. People also use the word in self-criticism when they feel they should have done more. A self-description does not give you permission to repeat the judgement about them: a person may be joking, frustrated, or looking for reassurance.
In stories and dramas, 게으른 can help establish a character who avoids work. Watch the actions as well as the adjective. A character who moves slowly may be 느리다, and a character with free time may be 한가하다. Neither detail alone shows that they are unwilling to make an effort.
The 요 ending in 게을러요 makes the sentence polite to the listener, but the judgement “lazy” remains. Likewise, the honorific 게으르세요 in the table is a grammatical form, not a tactful way to criticise an elder. Respectful endings cannot remove the force of the word you choose.
The 르 Change Has a Clear Boundary
Group 게을러요, 게을렀어요 and 게을러서 together: all use the doubled ㄹ before an 아/어-type ending. Then compare 게으른, 게으르면 and 게으르지 않아요, which keep the dictionary stem's 르. This prevents the common mistake of carrying the doubled ㄹ into every form.
For a noun description, 게으른 사람 is enough. 게을렀던 사람 looks back at someone who was lazy at an earlier time, often inviting a contrast with now. The present modifier has no past claim built into it. Choose between them according to the time you actually mean, rather than treating them as alternate spellings.
| Related word | Meaning | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| 게으름 | laziness | The noun in 게으름을 피우다. |
| 부지런하다 | diligent | Describes someone who regularly makes an effort. |
| 피곤하다 | tired | Names fatigue, which is different from unwillingness. |
| 한가하다 | free; not busy | Describes available time, without judging effort. |
The personality vocabulary lesson helps you compare character descriptions. For a temporary lack of energy, a word about tiredness can explain more than a label about work ethic.
Mini Drill: Choose the Correct Stem Shape
- Give the polite present of 게으르다.
- Complete “a lazy person”: ____ 사람.
- Give the reason form, “because I was being lazy”, without adding a past ending.
- Give the long negative.
Show drill answers
- 게을러요.
- 게으른 사람.
- 게을러서. The following clause can establish the past situation, as in the dialogue.
- 게으르지 않아요.
Quick Self-Test
- Is someone who works slowly necessarily 게으른?
- Does adding 요 make “lazy” a neutral compliment?
- What is the noun meaning “laziness”?
Show answers
- No. 느리다 describes speed; 게으르다 judges effort or willingness.
- No. It makes the ending polite, while the description can still offend.
- 게으름.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Polite Present of 게으르다?
게을러요. The 르 splits into ㄹ+ㄹ before 어, so the dictionary stem 게으르- changes shape.
Which Form Goes before a Noun?
게으른, as in 게으른 사람. Only the 아/어 endings trigger the doubled ㄹ.
How Do I Say 'Lazybones'?
게으름뱅이 means 'lazybones'. It can be teasing among close people, but it can also sound insulting.
Is 안 게을러요 a Correct Negative?
Yes. Both 안 게을러요 and the longer 게으르지 않아요 are fine; the second sounds a little more careful.
Which Words Are Related to 게으르다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Pair 게으르다 with its opposite 부지런하다 and you can describe both ends of a work ethic. The lesson on 르-irregular verbs and adjectives covers 모르다 and others that follow the same doubled-ㄹ pattern. Then run another word through the Korean verb conjugator or browse the Korean verb dictionary.