🔗 Using “하고” and “(이)랑” for “and” in Korean

Using “하고” and “(이)랑” for “and” in Korean

Ready to make smoother Korean sentences by connecting words naturally? Two of the most common ways to say “and” in Korean are 하고 and (이)랑. Knowing when and how to use them will instantly make your speech sound more fluent.

1️⃣ Quick Comparison

Connector	Attaches To	Formality	Example
하고	Noun (+ 하고)	Neutral-polite (safe everywhere)	빵하고 커피 bread and coffee
(이)랑	Noun + 이/랑	Casual, friendly	친구랑 영화 봐요 watch a movie with a friend
과/와	Noun + 과/와	Formal, written	한국어와 영어 Korean and English

Tip: If you’re unsure which one to use in daily conversation, 하고 is always safe.

2️⃣ How to Attach “하고” & “(이)랑”

하고 – just place it after any noun.
예) 사과하고 바나나
(이)랑 – use 이랑 after a consonant, 랑 after a vowel.
예) 책이랑 노트, 물랑 주스

3️⃣ Connecting More than Two Items

You can chain multiple nouns the same way:

김치하고 불고기하고 비빔밥 좋아해요.
I like kimchi, bulgogi, and bibimbap.

In casual speech you’ll often hear the last connector dropped:
김치하고 불고기, 비빔밥 좋아해요.

4️⃣ Using with Verbs – “랑/하고 같이”

If you want to say “do something with someone,” add 같이 (together):

친구랑 같이 게임해요. – I play games with my friend.
동료하고 같이 점심 먹었어요. – I had lunch with a coworker.

5️⃣ Mini-Dialog

A: 주말에 뭐 했어요?
B: 동생하고 영화 봤어요.
A: 재미있었어요?
B: 네! 팝콘이랑 콜라도 먹었어요.

6️⃣ Practice Challenge

Connect three foods you like with 하고.
Write one sentence about an activity you did with a friend using ~랑 같이.

Post your answers in the comments ⬇️— I’ll correct them!

7️⃣ Beyond Basics: Nuance & Tone

(이)랑 can feel warmer or cuter in texting.
In formal writing (essays, news) stick to 과/와.
Never mix connectors in the same list (사과하고 바나나랑… ❌).

👩‍🏫 Speak Naturally with a Tutor

Want to practice chaining nouns smoothly in live conversation?

👉 Book a 1-on-1 class with me on italki — we’ll role-play ordering food, planning trips, and more, while perfecting 하고 & (이)랑.

💬 Try It Now!

Write one Korean sentence using 하고 or (이)랑 in the comments. I’ll reply with feedback and pronunciation tips. 😊

📚 Keep learning: Talking About Hobbies in Korean