둘 다 (Dul Da): How to Say “Both” in Korean

The “Both” Sandwich Doesn’t Work Here

English builds “both” like a sandwich: both pizza and chicken. Korean flips that. The word 둘 다 dul da comes after your items, not between them. Most English speakers drop it in the middle first. The sentence collapses.

📌 Part of the Korean Culture & Language — Words That Don't Translate series — start there if you’re new.

How 둘 다 Works

둘 dul is the pure Korean (고유어 go-yu-eo) word for “two” — native counting goes 하나 ha-na, 둘 dul, 셋 set. That’s separate from Sino-Korean 이 i (二), borrowed from Chinese. Add 다 da (“all”) and 둘 다 literally means “all two”: both.

Think of 둘 다 as a label you attach after the pair. List your items, then 둘 다 steps in and confirms: both. The structure never changes.

둘 다 never lands between the two nouns. First the items, then 둘 다, then the verb.

Try It

You want both the red one and the blue one. Write it with 둘 다.

Quick FAQ

Can 둘 다 work without naming the items?

Yes — and this is one of its most useful moves. When context makes both options clear, 둘 다요 dul da-yo is a complete answer on its own. Someone offers two choices. You say 둘 다요. Nothing needs repeating — the situation handles it.

Does 둘 다 change for casual or polite speech?

둘 다 stays exactly the same in any register. Only the verb ending shifts: 둘 다 좋아 dul da jo-a is casual, 둘 다 좋아요 dul da jo-a-yo is polite. Drop it into any conversation without adjustment.

What if there are three things, not two?

둘 dul means specifically “two,” so 둘 다 only covers a pair. For three or more items, 다 da alone (“all of them”) is the natural choice. No number needed — 다 covers everything.

Items first, 둘 다 after, verb last. One pattern, zero exceptions.