Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to walk" in Korean: 걷다
걷다geotda
to walk in Korean is 걷다 (geotda). 걷다 is ㄷ-irregular; 걸어요 describes walking on foot rather than general travel.
to walk: an everyday statement
공원에서 걸어요.gongwoneseo georeoyo.
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How to pronounce 걷다
Say it
geotda
/kʌt̚t͈a/
Read 걷다 as geotda. The spoken form 걸어요 is georeoyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to walk" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 걷다geotda | to walk Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 걸어요georeoyo | to walk (polite present) Use 걸어요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 걸어요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 걸었어요georeosseoyo | to walk (polite past) Use 걸었어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 걸었어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 걷다 in real life
- 1to walk: an everyday statement
공원에서 걸어요.
gongwoneseo georeoyo.
I walk in the park.
걸어요 is the present form of 걷다.
- 2to walk: a different situation
어제 한 시간 걸었어요.
eoje han sigan georeosseoyo.
I walked for an hour yesterday.
걸었어요 is the past form of 걷다.
- 3to walk: a question or request
매일 걸어요?
maeil georeoyo?
Do you walk every day?
걸어요 is the present form of 걷다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 걷다
Incorrect: 걷다.
Correct: 걸어요.
When practicing to walk, 걷다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 걸어요.
Incorrect: 어제 걸어요.
Correct: 어제 걸었어요.
When practicing to walk, for a completed event yesterday, use 걸었어요; the present form 걸어요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
걷다 is ㄷ-irregular; 걸어요 describes walking on foot rather than general travel. 걸어요 is the polite conversational form of 걷다; 걸었어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 걷다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
공원에서 걸어요.
gongwoneseo georeoyo.
I walk in the park.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 한 시간 걸었어요.
eoje han sigan georeosseoyo.
I walked for an hour 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 walk" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to walk" in Korean
How do I use 걷다 in polite speech?
걸어요 is the polite conversational form of 걷다; 걸었어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 걷다 in a past-tense sentence?
걸었어요 is the polite past form. 걷다 is ㄷ-irregular; 걸어요 describes walking on foot rather than general travel.
What does 걸어요 mean here?
걸어요 is used for to walk. For example, 공원에서 걸어요. means “I walk in the park.”
What should I remember about 걷다?
걷다 is ㄷ-irregular; 걸어요 describes walking on foot rather than general travel.
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