-으러 / -러
-으러: Going or Coming in Order To
In order to — purpose connective that typically pairs with going and coming.
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Stem ends in a consonant (not ㄹ) | -으러 | 먹다 → 먹으러 / 읽다 → 읽으러 |
| Stem ends in a vowel | -러 | 사다 → 사러 / 보다 → 보러 |
| Typical follow-up | -으러 가다 / 오다 | 사러 가요 / 먹으러 왔어요 |
-으러 / -러 means in order to when the next move is going or coming.
우리말샘 lists -으러 after consonant verb stems (excluding ㄹ) for the purpose of going or coming. Classroom Korean pairs vowel stems with -러. The motion verb is not decoration — it is why this ending exists as a separate tool from -으려고.
What it does — purpose on the road
You name the purpose, then you move:
저랑 같이 사러 가요.
점심 먹으러 갔어요.
영화 보러 왔어요.
도서관에 공부하러 가요.English “in order to” is broader than this Korean ending. If there is no going/coming in the picture, you are probably in the wrong toolkit.
Forms
| Stem | Shape | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Consonant (not ㄹ) | -으러 | 먹으러, 읽으러 |
| Vowel | -러 | 사러, 보러 |
*사으러 and *먹러 are the classic swaps. ㄹ-stem details belong with careful conjugation drills; beginner lines stay on clear consonant vs vowel cases.
Motion is the point — vs -으려고
| Pattern | Job |
|---|---|
| -으러 가다/오다 | purpose of movement |
| -으려고 | intention more broadly |
사러 가요. go in order to buy
사려고 해요. intend to buy (no motion required)
*먹으러 해요. odd for this slot without going/comingIf you mean intention only, use -으려고 해요. Keep -으러 for purpose-of-going.
When to use — packing an outing
Use it for errands and plans with movement: eat out, buy something, see a film, visit a place to do X.
Same-unit partner (이)랑 marks with whom: 저랑 같이 사러 가요 — companion + purpose on one trip.
Practice rule: if you can add 가요/왔어요 naturally after the purpose, -으러/-러 fits. If movement would be fake, switch to -으려고 / -려고.
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
On the jabi learning path, this appears in 저랑 같이 사러 가요 (Come buy it with me) — Beginner Korean 1, Unit 19, on the theme of directions. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. What is 사다 in this pattern?
2. What is 먹다 in this pattern?
3. How is -으러 different from -으려고?
Common questions
Must 가다 or 오다 follow?
That is the core textbook pattern: 먹으러 가요, 보러 왔어요. Learn it with motion first.
Can I use -으러 for pure intention without going?
Prefer euryeogo for intention without movement: 먹으려고 해요. Keep -으러 for purpose-of-going.
What does the dictionary say?
우리말샘 lists -으러 after consonant verb stems (excluding ㄹ) as a connective marking the purpose of going or coming. Classroom Korean pairs vowel stems with -러.
Same unit as 이랑?
Yes — 저랑 같이 사러 가요 packs companion irang and purpose -으러 in one line.
Seen in the wild
Lessons where this pattern showed up in real Korean — news, slang, drama lines.
