Articles and Gender in Korean: A Clear Guide
In Korean, grammatical gender does not exist as it does in some other languages. Instead, nouns are generally neutral and do not change form based on gender. Articles are also not used in the same way as in languages like English.
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The rule
Korean does not have definite or indefinite articles like 'the' or 'a' in English. Instead, context usually indicates definiteness or indefiniteness. For example, the noun 'μ¬λ' (saram) can mean 'a person' or 'the person' depending on the context in which it is used.
Articles and Gender at a glance
| Noun Ending | Gender Association |
|---|---|
| -λ | Usually female |
| -λ¨ | Usually male |
| -μ¬λ | Neutral |
| -μμ¬ | Neutral |
| -μ μ | Neutral |
| -μ¬μ | Female |
| -λ¨μ | Male |
| -μΉκ΅¬ | Neutral |
Patterns for guessing gender in Korean nouns
Examples you can say out loud
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Frequently asked questions
Do Korean nouns have gender?
No, Korean nouns are generally gender-neutral and do not change form based on gender.