-으세요

Korean

Alternative forms

• 세요 (-seyo) — after vowels and ㄹ (l)
• 시어요 (-sieoyo) — expanded form
• 셔요 (-syeoyo) — alternative spelling form

Etymology

Contraction of 시어요 (-sieoyo), which is 시 (-si-, honorific suffix) + 어요 (-eo-yo, informal polite style sentence final).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɯsʰe̞jo]
• Phonetic hangul: [으세요]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	euseyo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	euseyo
McCune–Reischauer?	ŭseyo
Yale Romanization?	useyyo

Suffix

으세요 • (-euseyo)

1. A non-past honorific informal polite style suffix expressing declarative, interrogative, imperative, and suggestive moods depending on context.

   어머니께서 지금 집에 안 계세요.

   Eomeoni-kkeseo jigeum jib-e an gyeseyo.

   Mother is not home right now.

   안녕하세요?

   Annyeonghaseyo?

   Hello.

   (literally, “Have you been in peace?”)

   여기서는 담배 피우지 마세요.

   Yeogi-seo-neun dambae piuji maseyo.

   Do not smoke here, please.

Usage notes

• As the suffix starts with ㅅ, it causes the root ㄹ to elide, e.g. 우세요 (useyo) from 울다 (ulda)
• Sometimes to avoid confusion with imperative mood, 셔요 (-syeoyo) can be used instead.

Derived terms

• 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)