Language/Korean/Vocabulary/Animals

Korean Vocabulary - Animals

Hi Korean learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about animals in Korean. Animals have always been an important part of Korean culture, appearing in many traditional folk tales, songs, and artwork. Knowing the names of animals in Korean can also help you to communicate better with native speakers who may want to discuss pets or wildlife.

Basic Vocabulary

Let's start with some basic animal names in Korean. Pronunciation notes for each word will be indicated with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) in square brackets, followed by a transliteration in parentheses, and finally the English translation.

Korean	Pronunciation	English
개 (gae)	[ɡɛ]	dog
고양이 (goyang-i)	[ko.jaŋ.i]	cat
새 (sae)	[sɛ]	bird
소 (so)	[so]	cow
나무늘보 (namu-neul-bo)	[namu.nɯl.bo]	sloth
코끼리 (kokkiri)	[ko.k͈i.ɾi]	elephant
사슴 (saseum)	[sa.sɯm]	deer
고릴라 (gorilla)	[ko.ɾi.ɾa]	gorilla
원숭이 (won-sung-i)	[wʌn.sʊŋ.i]	monkey

In Korea, pets are becoming increasingly popular. To talk about your own pet, use the word 애완동물 (aewan-dongmul), which means "pet."

• 노랑이 (norangi) - yellow cat
  • Person 1: 노랑이가 귀엽네. (Norangi-ga gwi-yeopne.) (The yellow cat is cute.)
  • Person 2: 맞아요? (Maja-yo?) (Really?)

• Korean people also have a deep respect for nature and animals. For example, the white tiger is considered a sacred animal in Korean mythology. Tigers in general are believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits.

Useful Vocabulary

Here are some additional animal-related vocabulary in Korean that you may find useful:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
펭귄 (peng-gwin)	[pʰɛŋ.ɡɾin]	penguin
진드기 (jin-deugi)	[t͈ʃin.dɯ.ɡi]	tick
비둘기 (bidulgi)	[pi.dul.ɡi]	pigeon
하이에나 (hai-ena)	[hai.eɴa]	hyena
앵무새 (aeng-musa-e)	[ɛŋ.mu.sɛ]	parrot
돼지 (dwaeji)	[dwɛ.ʥi]	pig
토끼 (tokki)	[to.k͈i]	rabbit
쥐 (jwi)	[t͈ɕɥi]	mouse
바다사자 (bada-saja)	[pada.sadʑa]	sea lion

When talking about an animal in plural, simply add the suffix -들 (-deul) to the noun. For example, 개들 (gaedeul) means "dogs" in Korean.

• Person 1: 몇 마리 돼지가 있어요? (Myeot mari dwaejiga isseoyo?) (How many pigs do you have?)
  • Person 2: 네, 세 마리 있어요. (Ne, se mari isseoyo.) (I have three.)

• In Korean, you can also use onomatopoeic words to describe animal sounds. Here are a few examples:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
멍멍 (meong-meong)	[mʌŋ.mʌŋ]	woof (dog)
물렁물렁 (mul-leong-mul-leong)	[mul.lʌŋ.mul.lʌŋ]	slosh (fish)
미유미유 (mi-yu-mi-yu)	[mi.ju.mi.ju]	meow (cat)
꾹꾹 (kkuk-kkuk)	[k͈uk̚.k͈uk̚]	ribbit (frog)
쪼끼리 (jjo-kkiri)	[t͈ɕo.k͈i.ɾi]	chirp (bird)

• Person 1: 그 새가 어떻게 울고 있어요? (Geu saega eoddeohge ulgo isseoyo?) (What sound is that bird making?)
  • Person 2: 쪼끼리 쪼끼리 울고 있어요. (Jjo-kkiri jjo-kkiri ulgo isseoyo.) (It's making a chirping sound.)

Fun Fact

In Korea, dogs have an interesting cultural significance. The Korean Jindo breed of dog, which originated on the island of Jindo, is known for its loyalty and bravery. They are often used as hunting and guard dogs, and are considered a national treasure. There is even a Korean folk tale about a Jindo dog who saved his village from a tiger!

To summarize, learning the names of animals in Korean can help you to communicate better with native speakers and understand more about Korean culture. If you want to practice your Korean skills, consider using the Polyglot Club to find native speakers and ask them any questions. You can also visit the Korean vocabulary page to learn more words and phrases!

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