This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
The verb ending -고 싶어요 translates to “I want to.” It is used in Korean to express your desire to want to do something. And it’s attached to verb stems to express that wish or desire, like “먹고 싶어요” (I want to eat).
-고 싶어요 (-go si-peo-yo) = “I want to [verb]”
How to use it:
- Take the verb: Start with the dictionary form, like 먹다 (meok-da) = to eat.
- Drop the ‘다’: Remove the 다 from the verb.
- Add -고 싶어요: Attach -고 싶어요 to say “I want to.”
Examples:
먹다 (meok-da) = to eat → 먹고 싶어요 (meok-go si-peo-yo) = I want to eat.
가다 (ga-da) = to go → 가고 싶어요 (ga-go si-peo-yo) = I want to go.
보다 (bo-da) = to see → 보고 싶어요 (bo-go si-peo-yo) = I want to see.
Use -고 싶어요 to be polite or -고 싶어 (-go si-peo) for a more casual tone.
