Korean · Emotions & Descriptions
"Lonely" in Korean: 외롭다
외롭다oeropda
Lonely in Korean is 외롭다 (oeropda). 외롭다 becomes 외로워요; 혼자 means alone and does not itself mean lonely.
Lonely: an everyday statement
혼자 살면 가끔 외로워요.honja salmyeon gakkeum oerowoyo.
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How to pronounce 외롭다
Say it
oeropda
/weɾop̚t͈a/
Read 외롭다 as oeropda. The spoken form 외로워요 is oerowoyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"Lonely" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 외롭다oeropda | Lonely Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 외로워요oerowoyo | Lonely (polite present) Use 외로워요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 외로워요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 외로웠어요oerowosseoyo | Lonely (polite past) Use 외로웠어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 외로웠어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 외롭다 in real life
- 1Lonely: an everyday statement
혼자 살면 가끔 외로워요.
honja salmyeon gakkeum oerowoyo.
I sometimes feel lonely living alone.
외로워요 is the present form of 외롭다.
- 2Lonely: a different situation
어제 밤에 외로웠어요.
eoje bame oerowosseoyo.
I was lonely last night.
외로웠어요 is the past form of 외롭다.
- 3Lonely: a question or request
여기서 외로워요?
yeogiseo oerowoyo?
Do you feel lonely here?
외로워요 is the present form of 외롭다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 외롭다
Incorrect: 외롭다.
Correct: 외로워요.
When practicing lonely, 외롭다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 외로워요.
Incorrect: 어제 외로워요.
Correct: 어제 외로웠어요.
When practicing lonely, for a completed event yesterday, use 외로웠어요; the present form 외로워요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
외롭다 becomes 외로워요; 혼자 means alone and does not itself mean lonely. 외로워요 is the polite conversational form of 외롭다; 외로웠어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led emotions and descriptions study exercise: two sentences with 외롭다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
혼자 살면 가끔 외로워요.
honja salmyeon gakkeum oerowoyo.
I sometimes feel lonely living alone.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 밤에 외로웠어요.
eoje bame oerowosseoyo.
I was lonely last night.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Lonely" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Lonely" in Korean
How do I use 외롭다 in polite speech?
외로워요 is the polite conversational form of 외롭다; 외로웠어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 외롭다 in a past-tense sentence?
외로웠어요 is the polite past form. 외롭다 becomes 외로워요; 혼자 means alone and does not itself mean lonely.
What does 외로워요 mean here?
외로워요 is used for lonely. For example, 혼자 살면 가끔 외로워요. means “I sometimes feel lonely living alone.”
What should I remember about 외롭다?
외롭다 becomes 외로워요; 혼자 means alone and does not itself mean lonely.
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