Conjunction Particle 하고 (and - casual)

In English, we put "and" between two words with spaces on both sides. In Korean, particles like 하고 attach directly to the noun. There is no space between the noun and 하고. It is like a magnet that snaps right onto the end of a word. One of the best things about 하고 is its consistency. You do not have to worry about whether the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant. It stays exactly the same every single time. It is like a grammar traffic light that is always green for you. Just take your first noun, snap 하고 onto the end, and then say your second noun. You can even chain them together if you have a long list. It is the ultimate multitasker for your sentences.

1. 1Using 하고 is as easy as 1-2-3. Follow these steps to build your phrase:
2. 2Pick your first noun (e.g., 커피 - coffee).
3. 3Attach 하고 directly to the end of that noun (e.g., 커피하고).
4. 4Add your second noun (e.g., 빵 - bread).
5. 5Result: 커피하고 빵 (Coffee and bread).
6. 6It works the same way for words with a bottom consonant (batchim). Take 책 (book). Just add 하고 to get 책하고. Then add 연필 (pencil). Now you have 책하고 연필 (A book and a pencil). No changes, no exceptions, no headaches. Yes, even native speakers love how simple this one is! It is the perfect "set it and forget it" grammar rule.

You will use 하고 in two main scenarios. First, use it to list things. Imagine you are at a cafe. You want to order a latte and a muffin. You would say 라떼하고 머핀 주세요. It is perfect for grocery lists, hobby lists, or naming your family members. Second, use it to mean "with." If you went to the mall with a friend, you would say 친구하고 쇼핑했어요. It describes doing an action together with someone else. It is very common in spoken Korean. Use it when you want to sound natural but not overly formal. It is the "casual Friday" of the particle world—comfortable and appropriate for most situations.

There is one big rule you must remember. 하고 only sticks to nouns. You cannot use it to connect two sentences or two verbs. If you want to say "I eat and I sleep," 하고 cannot help you there. You would need a different connector like 고 or 그리고. Think of 하고 as a specialized glue for objects and people only. Also, while it is great for speaking, it might feel a bit too casual for a legal document or a very formal academic paper. In those cases, you would switch to its cousin, 와/과. But for 90% of your daily life? 하고 is your superstar.

The most common mistake is adding a space. People often write 사과 하고 instead of 사과하고. Remember, particles are clingy! They never want to be alone. Another mistake is trying to use it like the English word "and" to start a sentence. You cannot start a sentence with 하고. If you want to say "And..." at the beginning of a thought, use 그리고 instead. Finally, don't forget that 하고 is for nouns. If you try to attach it to an adjective like "pretty and tall," it just won't work. It is like trying to use a key on a door that doesn't have a lock. Keep it strictly for nouns, and you will be golden.

You might see other words that mean "and," like 와/과 or (이)랑. Here is the breakdown. 와/과 is the "tuxedo" version. It is formal and mostly used in writing or news reports. It also changes based on the final consonant, which makes it a bit harder to use. (이)랑 is the "pajamas" version. It is very casual and mostly used with close friends or children. 하고 sits right in the middle. It is like a nice pair of jeans. It is polite enough for most people but relaxed enough for daily conversation. If you are ever unsure which one to use, pick 하고. It is almost always a safe and natural choice.