가요
gayo[ka̠jo]
The English phrase "I go" is translated into Korean as 가요 (gayo).
가요 is used to state that you are going to a destination or to signal that you are departing from your current location.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes based on the intended level of politeness and tense. The polite, informal form is 가요, while the casual form is 가. In formal contexts, 갑니다 is used. If you need to express the past tense, use 갔어요 to mean "went".
How do you pronounce it?
gayo
Did you know?
- While 가요 means 'I go' as a verb, it is also the generic term for 'K-pop' or popular songs in South Korea.
- Korean uses a specific 'honorific' version of 'go' called 가시다 when speaking about a respected person, such as a grandparent or a boss.
- If you use the casual form 가 to someone older than you, it is not just informal, it is considered a major social insult.
Examples in context
- 난 공원에 가요.I go to the park.This sentence shows how to use 가요 to say you are going to a specific destination like a park.Tatoeba #1211897 by Brian255, translation #257353 by CK
- 나는 학교에 가요.I go to school.This sentence shows how to use 가요 to say you are going to school.Tatoeba #472088 by tamsanh, translation #472089 by tamsanh
- 이제 집에 가요.ije jibe gayo.I am going home now.
Example conversation
Jieun and Minjun are finishing their meeting at a cafe.
- 지은 Ji-eun민준 씨, 저 이제 가요.Minjun ssi, jeo ije gayo.Minjun, I'm leaving now.
- 민준 Min-jun벌써 가시네요.beolsseo gasineyo.You're leaving already.
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 약속이 있어요.ne, yaksogi isseoyo.Yes, I have an appointment.
- 민준 Min-jun네, 조심히 가세요.ne, josimhi gaseyo.Okay, get home safely.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 가요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
