반말 -아/어
Quick answer: 반말 -아/어 means casual speech — the 해요 form with the 요 taken off.
How to form it
해요 → 해 · 가요 → 가 · 먹어요 → 먹어 · noun → 이야 / 야
In Korean: 해요 → 해 가요 → 가 먹어요 → 먹어 명사 → 이야 / 야
What to know
Casual speech is not a new set of endings — it is the 해요 form with 요 removed. The one exception is 이에요, which becomes 이야 or 야. Who you may use it with matters more than the form: people your own age you are close to, and juniors who have agreed to it.
Examples
- 우리 동갑이야.We are the same age.
- 지금은 바빠.I am busy right now.
- 농담은 괜찮아.Joking is fine.
Where it's taught
HanDa Level 2 (TOPIK I), Lesson 27: 주말이니까 나가자 — It is the weekend — let us go out. Also in the Level 2 book.
Learned in the same lesson: -자, -지 마.
Go deeper: our full article on this pattern.
Practise 반말 -아/어 out loud
In the HanDa app this is Level 2, Lesson 27 — drills, a speaking check and an AI teacher that corrects what you say. Free for 7 days.