먹을게요
meogeulgeyo
먹을게요 (meogeulgeyo) is the Korean phrase for "I will eat".
This phrase is a statement used to tell someone that you intend to eat. It is commonly used when someone offers you food or asks if you are going to eat, serving as a way to accept the offer or state your intention.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the verb stem 먹 (to eat) and the grammatical ending -(으)ㄹ게요, which expresses a promise or intention to the listener.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the simple future tense 먹을 거예요, which means "I will eat" or "it will be eaten", 먹을게요 carries a nuance of a promise or a decision made in direct response to the listener.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending -(으)ㄹ게요 is used specifically when the speaker is making a commitment or informing the listener of their intention, often implying that the action is in response to the listener's situation.
How do you pronounce it?
meogeulgeyo
Did you know?
- The verb 먹다 ('to eat') is used in phrases that have nothing to do with food, such as 나이를 먹다, which literally means 'to eat age' but actually means 'to grow older'.
- In certain polite contexts, particularly when a superior offers food, the verb stem 먹 might be replaced with the honorific stem 드 to form 들게요 or more commonly 들겠습니다. Using the standard 'eat' stem with a superior can sometimes feel blunt.
- If you want to express that you are about to start a meal specifically to show respect to the cook, you would often say 잘 먹겠습니다 instead. This translates to 'I will eat well' and is a standard ritualistic phrase.
Examples in context
- 저는 이걸 먹을게요.jeoneun igeol meogeulgeyo.I will eat this.
- 사과를 먹을게요.sagwareul meogeulgeyo.I will eat the apple.
- 먼저 먹을게요.meonjeo meogeulgeyo.I will eat first.
Example conversation
Jihoon offers Jieun some bread at a cafe.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은 씨, 빵 좀 먹을래요?Jieun-ssi, ppang jom meogeullaeyo?Jieun, do you want to eat some bread?
- 지은 Ji-eun아니요, 괜찮아요. 저는 이걸 먹을게요.aniyo, gwaenchannayo. jeoneun igeol meogeulgeyo.No, it's okay. I will eat this.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그래요? 맛있게 드세요.geuraeyo? masitge deuseyo.Really? Enjoy your meal.
- 지은 Ji-eun고마워요, 지훈 씨.gomawoyo, Jihoon-ssi.Thank you, Jihoon.
