Ieyo vs yeyo (이에요・예요): say “is” after a noun
After a noun ending in a consonant, use 이에요. After a noun ending in a vowel, use 예요. Together they make everyday polite noun sentences.
Look at the noun’s last block
- 책이에요. (Chaegieyo.) — It is a book: 책 has final ㄱ
- 학교예요. (Hakgyoyeyo.) — It is a school: 교 ends in a vowel
- 학생이에요. (Haksaengieyo.) — I am / they are a student, depending on context
You can leave the subject unspoken when the conversation already makes it clear. Korean does not require an explicit “it” in every sentence. Focus first on identifying the noun and attaching the right ending.
The spelling is 예요
After a vowel-ending noun, write 예요, not 에요: 학교예요. The negative expression 아니에요 has its own form. Do not “correct” it to 아니예요 just by applying the noun-ending rule.
Ask a question with the same ending
학교예요? (Hakgyoyeyo?) can mean “Is it a school?” The ending stays the same; question intonation and context make it a question. For a statement, let your intonation settle. Practise the pair aloud so the difference is something you hear, not just a question mark you read.
This ending belongs to noun sentences. Do not add it to every Korean verb because English uses “is” in phrases such as “is eating.”
Try it before looking
- 책 __ : 이에요 or 예요?
- 학교 __ : 이에요 or 예요?
- Which is the negative: 아니에요 or 아니예요?
Show answers and reasons
- 책이에요: final consonant.
- 학교예요: final vowel.
- 아니에요 is the correct form.
Review the particles before the noun ending.
Keep practising
Practise Korean words with pictures and audio. Read a short example, cover the reading, then say it again from the script.
Reference: National Institute of Korean Language. Explanations and practice here are written by Remlori.
Practise sounds, words and sentence building in the free first chapter.
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