-으라

Jeju

Alternative forms

• 라 (-ra) — after vowels and ㄹ (l)

Etymology

See Korean 으라 (-eura).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɨɾa̠]

Suffix

으라 (-eura)

1. (formal) a plain style imperative ending

   먹으라! ― Meog-eura! ― Eat!

Korean

Alternative forms

• 라 (-ra) — after vowels and ㄹ (l)

Etymology

From Middle Korean 으〮라〮/ᄋᆞ〮라〮 (Yale: -úlá/ólá), from Old Korean 羅 (*-la).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɯɾa̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [으라]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	eura
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	eula
McCune–Reischauer?	ŭra
Yale Romanization?	ula

Suffix

으라 • (-eura)

1. In the plain style, an imperative verb-final suffix:
   1. Always used in indirect quotes, where all verbs in the imperative mood are neutralized to this suffix.

      아버지께서 나에게 집에 가라고 하셨다.

      Abeoji-kkeseo na-ege jib-e gara-go hasyeotda.

      My father told me to go home.

      걔네들보고 밥 먹으라고 그랬어.

      Gyaenedeul-bogo bap meogeura-go geuraesseo.

      I told them to eat.

      나만 벌금을 내라니 말이 돼?

      Na-man beolgeum-eul naera-ni mar-i dwae?

      They said only I should pay the fine; how does this make any sense?

   2. (Pyongan or archaic) A general-purpose imperative suffix, not commonly used nowadays outside certain dialects. In Pyongan dialect, it is also used in the intimate style.

      Synonym: 어라 (-eora)

      • 1938, “Genesis I. 3”, in 성경 개역한글판 [seonggyeong gaeyeokhan'geulpan, Korean Revised Version Bible]:

        하나님이 가라사대 빛이 있으라 하시매 빛이 있었고 […]

        Hananim-i garasadae bich-i isseura hasimae bich-i isseotgo [ … ]

        Quoth God, "Let there be light", and there was light […]

      • 2020, 강용택 [gang'yongtaek], “중국 료녕성 평안도지역어의 문장종결법에 대하여 [jungguk ryonyeongseong pyeong'andojiyeogeoui munjangjonggyeolbeobe daehayeo, On the sentence enders of Pyong'an dialect in Liaoning Province, China]”, in Jungguk Joseoneomun, volume 4, pages 6—11:

        할아버지, 고기를 잡으라요 […] 철수야, 고기를 잡으라.

        Harabeoji, gogi-reul jabeura-yo [ … ] cheolsu-ya, gogi-reul jabeura.

        Grandfather, catch the fish […] Cheolsu, catch the fish.

   3. (formal or literary) In the plain style, an imperative verb-final suffix specifically addressed to a general, impersonal audience, e.g. by an author to their readers.

      너 자신을 알라. ― Neo jasin-eul alla. ― Know thyself.

      다음 방정식의 해를 구하라. ― Da'eum bangjeongsig-ui hae-reul guhara. ― Find the solutions of the following equations.

2. Short for 으라고 (-eura-go).

   아버지께서 나에게 집에 가라 하셨다.

   Abeoji-kkeseo na-ege jib-e gara hasyeotda.

   My father told me to go home.

   걔네들보고 밥 먹으라 그랬어.

   Gyaenedeul-bogo bap meogeura geuraesseo.

   I told them to eat.