Particle (이)랑 (and - very casual)

This particle attaches directly to a noun. It does not need any spaces. It serves two main purposes. First, it connects two or more nouns like "and." Second, it indicates accompaniment like "with." It is very flexible. You can even stack it. In English, we say "A and B." In casual Korean, you can say "A랑 B랑." It adds a rhythmic, bouncy feel to your speech. It is almost exclusively used in spoken Korean. You rarely see it in newspapers or textbooks. Think of it as the "spoken-only" shortcut.

1. 1Check the last letter of your noun.
2. 2Does it end in a consonant (Batchim)? Add 이랑.
3. 3Does it end in a vowel (No Batchim)? Add 랑.
4. 4Let's look at some examples. Take 선생님 (teacher). It ends in a consonant. So, it becomes 선생님이랑. Now take 친구 (friend). It ends in a vowel. So, it becomes 친구랑. It is a simple phonetic rule. The extra 이 helps bridge the sound from the consonant. It prevents your tongue from getting tied in knots. Even native speakers appreciate that smooth transition.

Use this when you are with friends. Use it with your siblings or younger people. It is perfect for ordering food at a casual spot. "I'll have a burger and a cola, please." That is a perfect (이)랑 moment. Use it when texting your classmates. It shows you are comfortable with them. It is also great for describing who you hung out with. "I went to the park with my dog." Here, 강아지랑 works perfectly. It creates an atmosphere of intimacy. It signals that you are not being overly formal or distant.

Do not use this in a job interview. It might make you sound too unpolished. Avoid it when writing a formal essay for class. In those cases, 와/과 is your better bet. If you are speaking to someone much older or of much higher status, be careful. While not "rude," it can feel a bit too "buddy-buddy." Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Casual settings are green. Business settings are red. When in doubt at a fancy wedding, stick to 하고 or 와/과. You do not want to sound like you are at a karaoke bar.

Many people forget the 이 after a consonant. They might say 수박랑 instead of 수박이랑. This sounds choppy and hard to pronounce. Another mistake is using it in formal writing. If you write a letter to a CEO using (이)랑, they might think you are too casual. Some people also forget that it can mean "with." They only use it as "and." Remember, it is a multi-tool! Also, do not put a space before the particle. It must stick to the noun like a sticker. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when typing fast, but you should aim for perfection.

How does it differ from 하고? 하고 is the middle ground. It is safe for almost any spoken situation. (이)랑 is even more casual than 하고. It feels more "street" or "homey." What about 와/과? That is the king of formal writing. You will see 와/과 in books and news reports. If 와/과 is a suit, and 하고 is a polo shirt, then (이)랑 is a graphic tee. They all do the same job but for different crowds. Choose your outfit based on where you are going.