(이)여
(i)yeo
Grammar · 1 sense
Polite address
Examples
주여, 잘못을 용서하여 주소서.
Lord, forgive me for my sins.
젊은 그대들이여, 시간을 아껴 쓰시오.
Young people, make the most of your time.
겨레여, 잠에서 깨어나라!
My fellow countrymen, wake up!
When you'd hear it
(이)여 is a highly formal, literary, and often old-fashioned form of address. It appears in prayers, sermons, patriotic slogans, poetry, and dramatic speeches, but is unusual in everyday conversation.
What learners get wrong
Unlike ordinary forms such as 아/야, (이)여 gives an elevated or solemn tone and can sound archaic. It follows a noun in direct address, as in 주여 or 겨레여.
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