ㅡ 탈락
Quick answer: ㅡ 탈락 means when the stem ends in ㅡ, the ㅡ drops before -아/어요.
How to form it
쓰다 → 써요 · 배고프다 → 배고파요 · if the preceding vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ use -아요, otherwise -어요
In Korean: 쓰다 → 써요 배고프다 → 배고파요 앞 모음이 ㅏ·ㅗ면 -아요, 그 밖은 -어요
What to know
This is not an exception you memorise word by word. Any stem ending in ㅡ loses it before -아/어요, and then you look at the vowel before it to choose 아 or 어. 배고프다 has ㅗ before the ㅡ, so it becomes 배고파요.
Examples
- 저는 배고파요.I'm hungry.
- 이름을 써요.I write my name.
- 링링 씨는 배고파요.Lingling is hungry.
Where it's taught
HanDa Level 1 (TOPIK I), Lesson 9: 김치찌개가 맛있어요 — The kimchi stew is delicious. Also in the Level 1 book.
Learned in the same lesson: N하고 N.
Practise ㅡ 탈락 out loud
In the HanDa app this is Level 1, Lesson 9 — drills, a speaking check and an AI teacher that corrects what you say. Free for 7 days.