Key Facts
- Hangul: 그리고; Revised Romanization: geurigo
- Part of speech: adverb (conjunction)
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral; adds words, phrases or sentences.
And in Korean: What Does 그리고 Mean?
그리고 is a conjunction-adverb meaning "and" or "and then". It is neutral. For learners, starting a second sentence with 그리고 is a useful pattern. It can also connect words and phrases in a list. Each example below shows it at the start of the second sentence.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Three syllables, geu-ri-go. The first vowel ㅡ is unrounded: spread the lips slightly and keep the tongue high, with no "oo" rounding. The ㄹ between vowels is a quick tongue tap, like the t in American "butter".
Example Sentences with 그리고
저는 학생이에요. 그리고 친구는 선생님이에요.
Jeoneun haksaengieyo. Geurigo chinguneun seonsaengnimieyo.
I am a student. And my friend is a teacher.
Two statements sit side by side: I am a student, and my friend is a teacher.
사과를 샀어요. 그리고 우유도 샀어요.
Sagwareul sasseoyo. Geurigo uyudo sasseoyo.
I bought apples. And I bought milk too.
Here the speaker adds a second purchase, and 도 means "too".
밥을 먹었어요. 그리고 커피를 마셨어요.
Babeul meogeosseoyo. Geurigo keopireul masyeosseoyo.
I ate a meal. And then I drank coffee.
The meaning moves to "and then", since the second sentence follows the first in time.
Common Phrases and Collocations
그러고 나서 means "and after that", 그리고 또 means "and also", and 그러고 나서는 means "and then, after that". You will often see 그리고 나서 in casual writing, but the standard spelling is 그러고 나서.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 그러고 나서 | and after that |
| 그리고 또 | and also |
| 그러고 나서는 | and then (after that) |
The Mistake to Avoid
Less usual for a simple shopping list: 사과 그리고 우유
Everyday choice: 사과하고 우유
Why: 하고 is a compact way to join nouns in everyday speech. 그리고 can also connect nouns, particularly when a speaker pauses to add an item. This is a difference in phrasing, rather than a ban on using 그리고 with nouns. The National Institute of Korean Language gives examples of 그리고 in lists.
그리고 Compared with 하고 and 와/과 and 그래서
하고 joins nouns in speech, 와/과 is the more formal noun joiner, and 그래서 gives a result instead of adding information.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 그리고 | and | This page's word |
| 하고 | and (between nouns) | Joins nouns, not sentences. |
| 와/과 | and (between nouns) | More formal noun joiner. |
| 그래서 | so | Gives result, not addition. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
그리고 is native Korean, with no hanja. It is linked to the verb meaning "to do so", which is also why the standard form of "and after that" is 그러고 나서.
Adding One More Item to an Order
A customer is ordering breakfast at a cafe. 그리고 lets the customer add another request after answering the first question.
Customer
샌드위치 하나 주세요.
Saendeuwichi hana juseyo.
One sandwich, please.
Barista
음료도 드릴까요?
Eumnyodo deurilkkayo?
Would you like a drink too?
Customer
네, 커피 주세요. 그리고 물도 주세요.
Ne, keopi juseyo. Geurigo muldo juseyo.
Yes, coffee, please. And some water too, please.
Barista
네, 알겠습니다.
Ne, algesseumnida.
Certainly.
The customer finishes one request and then adds water. 그리고 marks the addition, while 도 on 물도 means “water too.” The two can appear together: 그리고 connects the requests, and 도 shows that water is an extra item. Removing 그리고 would still leave two understandable requests, but the explicit connection would disappear.
Where Will You Hear 그리고?
그리고 appears in conversation when someone remembers one more detail, in presentations when a speaker adds a point, and in stories when the next event follows. Its meaning depends on the relationship between those details. The shopping example adds another purchase; the meal example gives an event that happened afterward.
The connector itself has no polite or casual ending. In the dialogue, 주세요 makes each request polite. You can use 그리고 with a friend or a stranger without changing the connector to match the listener.
A pause after 그리고 can hold the listener's attention while the speaker prepares the next point. It signals that the speaker has more to say. In a written message, it is equally normal to start a new sentence with 그리고; it does not need to be hidden in the middle.
Choosing Addition, Sequence or Result
그리고 또 means “and also” or “and another thing.” 또 emphasizes the extra point. It can introduce another reason, another item or something else the speaker wants to mention. There is no special idiomatic meaning to memorize: both parts contribute to the addition.
그러고 나서 means “after doing that.” Unlike a simple 그리고, it explicitly places the next action after the previous action is finished. Notice the spelling 그러고. The National Institute of Korean Language's explanation distinguishes this verb construction from the connector 그리고.
그래서 means “so,” making the next statement a result. If someone buys an umbrella because it is raining, 그래서 expresses that reason-and-result relationship. 그리고 would merely add the umbrella purchase as another fact. Events appearing in sequence do not automatically make one the cause of the other.
Connectors to Learn beside 그리고
| Korean | Meaning | What it connects |
|---|---|---|
| 하고 | and | Attaches to a noun when listing things in conversation. |
| 와/과 | and | Noun particles: 와 after a vowel, 과 after a consonant. |
| 그래서 | so | Introduces a result of the previous statement. |
| 하지만 | but | Introduces a contrasting statement. |
The conjunctions lesson teaches these relationships. For a compact grocery list, a noun particle is convenient. For two complete requests or facts, 그리고 gives you room to finish each thought before adding the next one.
Quick Self-Test
- In the dialogue, what does 도 add to 물도?
- Which connector explicitly introduces a result?
- Is 그러고 나서 or 그리고 나서 the standard “after that” form?
Show answers
- “Too”: water is another item in the order.
- 그래서.
- 그러고 나서.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "and" in Korean?
It depends on what you join. 그리고 adds statements or list items. Between nouns, 하고 is common in speech, as in 사과하고 우유 (apples and milk); 와/과 also joins nouns.
Can 그리고 join two nouns?
Yes. 그리고 can connect nouns in a list, as well as phrases and sentences. For a simple everyday list, 하고 or 와/과 is often more compact.
What does 그러고 나서 mean?
그러고 나서 means "and after that". It is the standard spelling; 그리고 나서 is common in casual writing but non-standard.
How is 그리고 different from 그래서?
그리고 adds a second fact or the next event. 그래서 says the second sentence is a result of the first, like English "so".
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Conjunctions groups 그리고 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 그리고 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list is the word for but. See the page for but.
- Compare with the page for so.
- 그리고 starts a new sentence. To join two clauses inside one sentence, see the Korean and/but connectors lesson on the endings for and, but and background.