Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to lose" in Korean: 잃다
잃다ilta
to lose in Korean is 잃다 (ilta). 잃다 means lose something; 잃어버리다 often emphasizes an unintended loss.
to lose: an everyday statement
가끔 물건을 잃어요.gakkeum mulgeoneul ireoyo.
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How to pronounce 잃다
Say it
ilta
/iltʰa/
Read 잃다 as ilta. The spoken form 잃어요 is ireoyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to lose" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 잃다ilta | to lose Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 잃어요ireoyo | to lose (polite present) Use 잃어요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 잃어요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 잃었어요ireosseoyo | to lose (polite past) Use 잃었어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 잃었어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 잃다 in real life
- 1to lose: an everyday statement
가끔 물건을 잃어요.
gakkeum mulgeoneul ireoyo.
I sometimes lose things.
잃어요 is the present form of 잃다.
- 2to lose: a different situation
어제 지갑을 잃었어요.
eoje jigabeul ireosseoyo.
I lost my wallet yesterday.
잃었어요 is the past form of 잃다.
- 3to lose: a question or request
자주 열쇠를 잃어요?
jaju yeolsoereul ireoyo?
Do you often lose your keys?
잃어요 is the present form of 잃다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 잃다
Incorrect: 잃다.
Correct: 잃어요.
When practicing to lose, 잃다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 잃어요.
Incorrect: 어제 잃어요.
Correct: 어제 잃었어요.
When practicing to lose, for a completed event yesterday, use 잃었어요; the present form 잃어요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
잃다 means lose something; 잃어버리다 often emphasizes an unintended loss. 잃어요 is the polite conversational form of 잃다; 잃었어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 잃다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
가끔 물건을 잃어요.
gakkeum mulgeoneul ireoyo.
I sometimes lose things.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 지갑을 잃었어요.
eoje jigabeul ireosseoyo.
I lost my wallet 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 lose" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to lose" in Korean
How do I use 잃다 in polite speech?
잃어요 is the polite conversational form of 잃다; 잃었어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 잃다 in a past-tense sentence?
잃었어요 is the polite past form. 잃다 means lose something; 잃어버리다 often emphasizes an unintended loss.
What does 잃어요 mean here?
잃어요 is used for to lose. For example, 가끔 물건을 잃어요. means “I sometimes lose things.”
What should I remember about 잃다?
잃다 means lose something; 잃어버리다 often emphasizes an unintended loss.
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