어른

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Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 얼〯운〮 (Yale: ělGwún).

Etymologically from the verb root 얼ㅇ (Yale: èlG-, “to have sex; to copulate; to marry”) and the gerundive suffix (Yale: -wún): "one who is married/has sex" (Lee and Ramsey 2011, p. 233). Alternatively from the related 얼우 (Yale: elGwu-, “to marry (off)”) and the same suffix: "one who is married". No longer perceived as such by modern speakers, as the source verbs are obsolete.

Pronunciation

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key):
  • Phonetic hangul:
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?eoreun
Revised Romanization (translit.)?eoleun
McCune–Reischauer?ŏrŭn
Yale Romanization?ēlun
  • South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: / 어 / 어

    Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch only on the second syllable, and also heightens the subsequent suffixed syllable.

Noun

어른 (eoreun)

  1. grownup, adult, elder, senior
    Synonyms: (both formal) 성인(成人) (seong'in), 대인(大人) (daein)
    Antonyms: (ae), 아이 (ai), (polite) 어린이 (eorini)
    어른 이야기한단다.Eoreun-deur-i iyagihandanda.The adults are talking.

Middle Korean

Pronunciation

Adverb

어른 (èlùn)

  1. quickly, at once
    • 1459, 月印釋譜 / 월인석보 [Worin seokbo], page Preface 2b:
      (펴ᇙ〮)은〮 누네〮 어른 디〯날 ᄊᆞᅀᅵ〮오〮
      PYÉLQ-ún nwùn-éy èlùn tǐnàl.s-sòzí-wó
      (piē) means, "the interval of something passing quickly before the eyes."

Descendants

  • Korean: 얼른 (eolleun)