Yeolda conjugation follows the ㄹ-drop pattern: the stem's ㄹ falls away before ㄴ, ㅂ and ㅅ.
Key Facts
- Hangul: 열다 (yeolda)
- Meaning: to open
- Level: A1
- Stem: 열
- Class: ㄹ-drop
- Objects: transitive
- Honorific polite: 여세요
What Does 열다 Mean?
열다 makes something open, as in 문을 열다 or 창문을 열다. It also has a second use: to start a business or hold an event, as in 가게를 열다 for opening a shop. The thing opened always takes 을/를, because the verb is transitive.
Two neighbours cover the other directions. 닫다 is the opposite action. 열리다 describes something that opens by itself or is opened by someone unnamed. The thing opening is its subject.
How Do You Pronounce 열다?
The dictionary form 열다 is read as written. Most endings that start with a vowel pull the final ㄹ across to the next syllable: 열어요 is read [여러요] and 열었어요 is read [여러써요]. The formal present is different. 엽니다 loses the ㄹ and is read [염니다]. The formal past 열었습니다 is read [여럳씀니다]. Revised Romanization writes the lemma as yeolda.
How Do You Use 열다 in a Sentence?
더워서 창문을 열어요.
It is hot, so I open the window.
The ㄹ is kept in 열어요, because 어 is not one of the sounds that removes it. The 서 ending in 더워서 gives the reason for opening the window.
아침에 가게 문을 열었어요.
I opened the shop in the morning.
The object here is 가게 문을, the door of a shop. The past form 열었어요 keeps the ㄹ, like the polite present.
문을 여는 사람이 있어요.
There is a person opening the door.
Here ㄹ drops: 여는 is the present modifier and sits before the noun 사람. A learner who writes 열는 breaks the rule explained below.
How Does Yeolda Conjugation Work?
In the table, watch for the forms that lose the ㄹ: 엽니다, 여세요, 여는. Forms like 열어요, 열면 and 열고 싶어요 keep it.
열다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 열어요 | ||
| Polite past | 열었어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 열 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 열겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 엽니다 | ||
| Formal past | 열었습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 열 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 열어 | ||
| Casual past | 열었어 | ||
| Casual future | 열 거야 | ||
| Want to (polite) | 열고 싶어요 | ||
| Honorific polite | 여세요 | ||
| Because / and then | 열어서 | ||
| If (conditional) | 열면 | ||
| Present modifier (before a noun) | 여는 | ||
| Past modifier (before a noun) | 연 | ||
| Future modifier (before a noun) | 열 | ||
| Negative with 안 (short) | 안 열어요 | ||
| Negative (long form) | 열지 않아요 |
| Form | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 열어요 | [여러요] |
| Polite past | 열었어요 | [여러써요] |
| Polite future (plan) | 열 거예요 | [열꺼예요] |
| Polite future (guess) | 열겠어요 | [열게써요] |
| Formal present | 엽니다 | [염니다] |
| Formal past | 열었습니다 | [여럳씀니다] |
| Formal future | 열 것입니다 | [열꺼심니다] |
| Casual present | 열어 | [여러] |
| Casual past | 열었어 | [여러써] |
| Casual future | 열 거야 | [열꺼야] |
| Want to (polite) | 열고 싶어요 | [열고 시퍼요] |
| Honorific polite | 여세요 | as written |
| Because / and then | 열어서 | [여러서] |
| If (conditional) | 열면 | as written |
| Present modifier | 여는 | as written |
| Past modifier | 연 | as written |
| Future modifier | 열 | as written |
| Negative (short) | 안 열어요 | [안 여러요] |
| Negative (long) | 열지 않아요 | [열지 아나요] |
Is 열다 Regular or Irregular?
열다 is irregular, of the type called ㄹ-drop. The stem-final ㄹ drops before ㄴ, ㅂ and ㅅ, and stays elsewhere. For 열다 that gives 여는, 엽니다 and 여세요, while 열어요, 열면 and 열 (the future modifier) keep the ㄹ. Note that the past modifier 연 also has no ㄹ, because ㄴ follows.
Common Mistake with 열다
Wrong: ✗ 문을 열는 사람
Correct: ✓ 문을 여는 사람
Why: 열다 is a ㄹ-irregular verb, so ㄹ drops before ㄴ and the modifier is 여는, not 열는. The same drop gives 여세요 and not 열세요.
열다 Versus Similar Words
| Word | How it differs |
|---|---|
| 닫다 | 열다 is to open and 닫다 is to close. Both are actions done to a thing, so both take 을/를. |
| 열리다 | 열다 is an action done to something; 열리다 describes something opening by itself or being opened. |
Getting a Café Ready for the Day
A café owner and an employee prepare to welcome customers. Their polite conversation uses a request, the past, and the scheduled present of 열다.
Owner
창문을 여세요.
Changmuneul yeoseyo.
Please open the window.
Employee
네, 열었어요. 가게는 몇 시에 열어요?
Ne, yeoreosseoyo. Gageneun myeot sie yeoreoyo?
Okay, I’ve opened it. What time does the café open?
Owner
오늘은 아홉 시에 열어요.
Oneureun ahop sie yeoreoyo.
Today we open at nine.
Employee
그럼 먼저 청소할게요.
Geureom meonjeo cheongsohalgeyo.
Then I’ll clean first.
여세요 drops ㄹ before the respectful ending, while 열었어요 keeps it before the vowel. In the question about the café, 가게는 sets the business as the topic. The speakers understand that they are opening it for customers; 열어요 does not need to repeat an object already clear from context.
Which Objects Commonly Go with 열다?
문을 열다 and 창문을 열다 describe physical openings. 뚜껑을 열다 means to open a lid, and 파일을 열다 means to open a computer file. The file use extends the same idea to making digital contents accessible. A screen has no door to move, but 열다 is still the ordinary verb.
마음을 열다, literally “open one's heart”, means to become emotionally open or receptive. It may describe starting to trust someone. 마음 takes the object marker just like 문, but the meaning is figurative. Opening your heart does not require telling someone every private detail.
회의를 열다 means to hold or convene a meeting. The meeting is the event being organized, rather than an object with a cover. In news reports, this use explains why 열다 can appear beside meetings, exhibitions, or other organized events instead of doors and windows.
Where Will You Hear 열다?
At home or in a classroom, 열다 comes up when a room is stuffy or someone needs access to a cupboard. In a shop, 문 여는 시간 means the opening time. The modifier 여는 has the same ㄹ-drop as 여는 사람 in the existing example. It describes the action associated with that time.
A computer instruction may use 파일을 여세요, “open the file”. Turning on the computer itself uses 켜다. This distinction also helps with household appliances: 열다 opens a door or lid, while 켜다 activates a device. The action you want determines the verb, even when both actions concern the same machine.
How Does the Subject Change with 열리다?
문을 열어요 describes someone opening the door. 문이 열려요 describes the door opening or being opened. The object marker 을 becomes the subject marker 이 because the sentence now centers on what happens to the door. 열리다 does not tell you whether a person, an automatic mechanism, or the wind caused it.
Keep the future 열 거예요 to one ㄹ and a space before 거예요. For the condition “if someone opens”, use 열면. The ㄹ-ending stem takes 면 directly. The ㄹ-drop lesson explains why these differ from forms built on other consonant-ending stems.
Related Words for Everyday Opening
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 문 | door | Can be the object of 열다 or the subject of 열리다. |
| 창문 | window | A common object in ventilation requests. |
| 뚜껑 | lid | The part opened on a container. |
| 켜다 | to turn on | Use for activating a light or device. |
The home vocabulary lesson teaches words for doors, windows, and other parts of a home.
Mini Drill: Choose the Opening Form
- Complete “the person opening”: 문을 ____ 사람.
- Make 열다 formal present.
- Give the conditional form.
- Choose the verb for turning on a light: 열다 or 켜다?
Show drill answers
- 여는: 문을 여는 사람.
- 엽니다.
- 열면.
- 켜다; 열다 opens a door, lid, file, or similar object.
Quick Self-Test
- Which marker belongs in 문____ 열려요?
- Is 마음을 열다 about a physical opening?
- What does 회의를 열다 mean?
Show answers
- 이: 문이 열려요. The door is the subject.
- No. It describes becoming open or receptive toward someone.
- To hold or convene a meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Polite Form of 열다?
The polite present is 열어요 and the polite past is 열었어요. The formal present is 엽니다.
Why Is It 여는 and Not 열는?
ㄹ drops before ㄴ, so the present modifier is 여는. The same rule makes 엽니다 and 여세요.
Does 열다 Mean Only to Open a Door?
No. It also means starting a business or holding an event, as in 가게를 열다 (to open a shop).
Which Particle Does the Opened Thing Take?
It takes 을/를, as in 문을 열어요.
How Do You Say You Want to Open Something?
Use 열고 싶어요. The ㄹ stays because ㄱ is not one of the sounds (ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ) that remove it.
Which Words Are Related to 열다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Compare 열다 with 닫다 and 열리다, then read about 켜다 and 시작하다. The ㄹ-drop pattern is taught step by step in the lesson linked above, and you can test any other verb in the Korean verb conjugator. Browse every entry in the Korean verb dictionary.