-고말고Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 5

-gomalgo

(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to emphasize one's agreement or affirmation to the other person's question or statement.

형태Forms

-고말고-고말고요

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to emphasize one's agreement or affirmation to the other person's question or statement.

(두루낮춤으로) 상대방의 질문에 긍정의 답을 하거나 상대방의 말에 동의하면서 이를 강조할 때 쓰는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Mainly used in speech.

주로 구어에서 쓴다.

예문Examples

지수는 보기 드문 미인이고말고.

Jisu is a rare beauty, no doubt.

나는 네가 대신 가 준다면 좋고말고.

If you go instead of me, I'd love it, of course.

남편이 준 선물인데 마음에 들고말고.

It's a gift from my husband, so of course I like it.

대화In conversation

너, 나를 믿지?

You trust me, right?

내 제일 친한 친구인데 믿고말고.

You're my best friend, of course I do.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-거라 -geora (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when ordering. TOPIK 5 -네 -ne (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when talking about something that one just learned. TOPIK 5 -는가 -neun-ga -ㄴ가 · -은가 (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question about a fact of the present. TOPIK 5 -는걸 -neun-geol -ㄴ걸 · -은걸 · -ㄴ걸요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker says a newly learned fact with admiration. TOPIK 5 -다 -da (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when describing a certain event, fact, state, etc. TOPIK 5 -다니 -dani -다니요 · -라니 · -라니요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to ask again or admire an unexpected fact in surprise. TOPIK 5

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -고말고 mean in Korean?

-고말고 is a sentence ending introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to emphasize one's agreement or affirmation to the other person's question or statement.

When do you use -고말고?

Mainly used in speech. The other shape is -고말고요 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -고말고 and -고말고요?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same sentence ending, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -고말고?

5급 — TOPIK 5, advanced. It is one of 56 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.