Learn Hardcore Korean: bumonimirang kapeeseo keopireul masyeoyo. - I drink coffee at the café with my parents.

이랑 is one particle meaning “with” or “and” in casual speech.
It is not 이/가 (the subject marker). The 이 you see is part of 이랑.
Use 이랑 after a consonant and 랑 after a vowel. Since 부모님 ends in a consonant, you get 부모님이랑; after a vowel (e.g., 친구) you’d say 친구랑.

How is (이)랑 different from 하고 and 와/과?

Do I need to add 같이 or 함께 to mean “together with”?

Optional. (이)랑 already implies “with,” but 같이 (together) or 함께 (together, slightly formal) can emphasize it.
Natural variants: 부모님이랑 같이…, 부모님과 함께…

Who is the subject? Why isn’t “I” written?

Korean often omits subjects when clear from context. Here, the understood subject is “I.”
You can add it:
- Topic: 저는 부모님이랑 카페에서 커피를 마셔요.
- Subject-focused: 제가 부모님이랑 카페에서 커피를 마셔요.
는 marks topic; 가 marks subject/new information or contrast.

Why is it 카페에서, not 카페에?

에서 marks the place where an action happens (do-drink-work, etc.): 카페에서 커피를 마셔요.
에 marks location/existence or destination: 카페에 있어요 (I’m at a café), 카페에 가요 (I go to a café).
For drinking (an action), use 에서.

Do I need the object marker 를 on 커피?

Why is it 마셔요 and not 마시어요?

Dictionary form is 마시다. With -어(요), 마시 + 어요 contracts to 마셔요 (ㅣ + ㅓ → ㅕ).
This is a regular vowel contraction, not an irregular verb.
Similar patterns: 가르치다 → 가르쳐요, 보이다 → 보여요.

What tense/aspect does 마셔요 express?

The non-past polite form can mean:
- Present/habitual: I drink (generally/regularly).
- Present (right now), if context indicates.
- Near future, if context implies a plan.
To be explicit: past 마셨어요, planned future 마실 거예요.

Could this sentence mean “My parents drink coffee at a cafe”?

No. 부모님이랑 means “with my parents,” not “my parents” as the subject.
To say “My parents drink coffee at a cafe,” use honorifics because they’re the subject: 부모님께서 카페에서 커피를 드세요.

Can I change the word order?

Yes, Korean word order is flexible as long as particles are intact. Examples:
- 카페에서 부모님이랑 커피를 마셔요.
- 커피를 부모님이랑 카페에서 마셔요.
The default SOV and the given order feel neutral and natural.

How do I make this more formal or more casual?

Do I need honorific verb forms because 부모님 are involved?

Not here, because the subject is “I,” so no honorific on the verb.
If the parents are the subject, use honorific markers/verbs: 부모님께서 커피를 드세요 (honorific of 마시다/먹다 is 드시다).

Do I need to say “my parents” explicitly (e.g., 제 부모님 or 우리 부모님)?

Korean often omits possessives when clear. 부모님 usually implies “my parents” in such contexts.
If you include it, 우리 부모님 is very natural; 제 부모님 is also correct (a touch more formal/neutral).

Is 부모님 already plural? Should I say 부모님들?

부모님 inherently refers to both parents; don’t add 들 for your own two parents.
부모님들 can be used when addressing/talking about many sets of parents collectively (e.g., a message to all parents).

Is it okay to say 부모 instead of 부모님?

부모 is a neutral/technical term (“parents” as a concept). For your (or someone’s) actual parents in conversation, 부모님 shows respect and is standard.
부모랑 can sound blunt; prefer 부모님이랑.

What’s the nuance difference between 카페, 커피숍, and 다방?

How do I turn this into a question or a negative?

Yes/no question (intonation and question mark): 부모님이랑 카페에서 커피를 마셔요?
Negative:
- Short: 부모님이랑 카페에서 커피를 안 마셔요.
- Longer/formal: 부모님이랑 카페에서 커피를 마시지 않아요.

Any pronunciation or spacing tips for this sentence?

Pronunciation (approx.): 부모님이랑 [부모니미랑], 카페에서 [카페에서], 커피를 [커피를], 마셔요 [마셔요].
In standard spacing, particles attach to the noun: 부모님이랑, 카페에서, 커피를 (no space between noun and particle).

Can I drop some particles in casual speech?

Can I use 먹다 instead of 마시다 for drinks?

Standard is 마시다 for drinks: 커피를 마셔요.
In casual speech, 먹다 is sometimes used with certain drinks (especially alcohol: 술 먹다). 커피 먹다 is heard colloquially, but 커피 마시다 is safer and standard.