Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to come" in Korean: 오다
오다oda
to come in Korean is 오다 (oda). 오다 describes movement toward the speaker or relevant place; 가다 describes going away.
to come: an everyday statement
친구가 우리 집에 와요.chinguga uri jibe wayo.
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How to pronounce 오다
Say it
oda
/ota/
Read 오다 as oda. The spoken form 와요 is wayo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to come" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 오다oda | to come Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 와요wayo | to come (polite present) Use 와요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 와요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 왔어요wasseoyo | to come (polite past) Use 왔어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 왔어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 오다 in real life
- 1to come: an everyday statement
친구가 우리 집에 와요.
chinguga uri jibe wayo.
A friend is coming to our house.
와요 is the present form of 오다.
- 2to come: a different situation
어제 버스로 왔어요.
eoje beoseuro wasseoyo.
I came by bus yesterday.
왔어요 is the past form of 오다.
- 3to come: a question or request
여기에 자주 와요?
yeogie jaju wayo?
Do you come here often?
와요 is the present form of 오다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 오다
Incorrect: 오다.
Correct: 와요.
When practicing to come, 오다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 와요.
Incorrect: 어제 와요.
Correct: 어제 왔어요.
When practicing to come, for a completed event yesterday, use 왔어요; the present form 와요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
오다 describes movement toward the speaker or relevant place; 가다 describes going away. 와요 is the polite conversational form of 오다; 왔어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 오다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
친구가 우리 집에 와요.
chinguga uri jibe wayo.
A friend is coming to our house.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 버스로 왔어요.
eoje beoseuro wasseoyo.
I came by bus yesterday.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to come" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to come" in Korean
How do I use 오다 in polite speech?
와요 is the polite conversational form of 오다; 왔어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 오다 in a past-tense sentence?
왔어요 is the polite past form. 오다 describes movement toward the speaker or relevant place; 가다 describes going away.
What does 와요 mean here?
와요 is used for to come. For example, 친구가 우리 집에 와요. means “A friend is coming to our house.”
What should I remember about 오다?
오다 describes movement toward the speaker or relevant place; 가다 describes going away.
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