Colorful Changes
When describing colors in Korean, adjectives like 빨갛다 (to be red) or 파랗다 (to be blue) end in the consonant ㅎ.
When these words meet endings starting with 아 or 어 (like -아요 or -어요 ), they go through a special change. The ㅎ drops, and the vowels combine to make a new shape.
The Color Word Group
Instead of memorizing a complex spelling rule, it is easiest to learn these common colors as a group. When they meet -아요 or -어요 , the final vowel changes to 애 or 얘 .
Common Color Changes
Dictionary Form · -아요 / -어요 Form · Meaning
빨갛다 · 빨개요 · red
노랗다 · 노래요 · yellow
파랗다 · 파래요 · blue
하얗다 · 하얘요 · white
Past Tense Colors
The same vowel change happens in the past tense because the past tense ending ( -았어요 or -었어요 ) also starts with 아/어.
Past Tense Examples
Dictionary Form · Past Tense Form
빨갛다 · 빨갰어요
노랗다 · 노랬어요
파랗다 · 파랬어요
하얗다 · 하얬어요
Example: 하늘이 파랬어요.
Regular 'ㅎ' Words
Not every word ending in ㅎ changes! This irregular rule mainly applies to color adjectives.
Other common descriptive verbs ending in ㅎ are regular. The ㅎ does not drop, and you simply add -아요 or -어요 normally.
Regular ㅎ Words
좋다 → 좋아요
많다 → 많아요
Common Mistake: Do not write 조애요 or 마내요 . Always write 좋아요 and 많아요 .