-을까

Korean

Alternative forms

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

Etymology

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

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɯɭk͈a̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [을까]

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

Suffix

을까 • (-eulkka)

1. In the intimate speech level, or with 요 (-yo) in the polite speech level, an interrogative suffix. Has a nuance of greater doubt or uncertainty.

   음악이나 들을까요? ― eumag-ina deur-eulkka-yo? ― Should we listen to some music?

   언제 만날까? ― eonje mannal kka ? ― When should we meet up?

   우리가 할 수 있을까? ― uri-ga hal su isseulkka? ― Can we do it? / Do you think we can do it?

   커피나 마실까? ― keopi-na masil kka ? ― Should [I, we] drink coffee?

Usage notes

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