Korean

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Alternative forms

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  • ㄹ까 (-lkka)after vowel or (l)-final stems

Etymology

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From Middle Korean 으ᇙ가〮/ᄋᆞᇙ가〮 (Yale: -olq-ká/ulq-ká), equivalent to 으ᇙ/ᄋᆞᇙ (Yale: -olq/ulq, irrealis adnominal suffix) + 가〮 (Yale: -ká, noun-like particle for polar questions). The wh-word question equivalent is 을꼬 (-eulkko), not common in Standard Korean.

Pronunciation

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Romanizations
Revised Romanization?eulkka
Revised Romanization (translit.)?eulkka
McCune–Reischauer?ŭlkka
Yale Romanization?ul.kka

Suffix

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을까 (-eulkka)

  1. In the intimate speech level, or with (-yo) in the polite speech level, an interrogative suffix. Has a nuance of greater doubt or uncertainty.
    음악이나 을까?Eumag-ina deur-eulkka-yo?Should we listen to some music?
    언제 ?Eonje mannal kka ?When should we meet up?
    우리 을까?Uri-ga hal su isseulkka?Can we do it? / Do you think we can do it?
    커피 ?Keopi-na masil kka ?Should [I, we] drink coffee?

Usage notes

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  • 을까 (-eulkka) causes stem-final (l) to drop out.
  • In Northern Standard Language, 문화어, this is spelled -을/ㄹ가.