All About Korean Animals: 117 Animal Names in Korean You Need to Know

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How do we talk about Korean animals? What animals are native to Korea? And what about Korean onomatopoeia for animal sounds?

If you’ve asked yourself these questions, don’t worry — I’ve got you! We’re going to cover all that and more.

When we’re kids, one of the first things we learn about is animals. Animals are so cool, after all!

But as adults learning a language, we often overlook Korean animals as one of our first areas of study.

Sure, we might learn the basics like “cat,” “dog,” and “bird,” but that’s usually where it ends. And until it comes up in conversation… We don’t think about it. And sometimes that leads to a big gap between our Korean speaking level and that of children much younger than us!

Besides, if you’re an animal lover, this is a must-know topic.

So channel your inner Steve (or Bindi!) Irwin and let’s learn all about Korean animals!

Animals in Korean: Fur Babies and Other Household Pets

Let’s start off with everyone’s favorite category: talking about our beloved fur babies!

First, what is “animal” in Korean?

• Animal: 동물, dongmul

But when we’re talking specifically about our “pets,” there are two ways to say it:

• Pet: 애완동물, aewandongmul
• Companion animal: 반려동물, banryeodongmul

They both mean “pet,” but Koreans tend to prefer 반려동물. It has a nicer meaning of an animal you’re attached to and live cohesively with.

애완동물 tends to mean “toy,” an animal for playing with and entertainment, rather than an emotional bond.

If you want to use it as a verb, “to pet,” you use the verb 쓰다듬다, sseudadeumda, which means “to stroke.”

Or you could use the verb 만지다, manjida, for “to touch.”

For example: 네 강아지를 쓰다듬어도 되나요?
ne gang-ajileul sseudadeum-eodo doenayo?
“Can I pet your dog/puppy?”

In this example, we use 강아지, gang-aji, which means “puppy.” But like in English, it’s often used as “doggie” or “pup” and used for any Good Boy.

Here are some other pet names in Korean:

• Dog: 개, gae
• Puppy: 강아지, gang-aji
• Cat: 고양이, goyang-i
• Kitten: 새끼고양이, saekki goyangi
• Fish: 물고기, mulgogi (This means an “alive” fish. “Fish” that you eat is 생선, saengseon)
• Goldfish: 금붕어, geumbung-eo
• Bird: 새, sae
• Parrot: 앵무새, aengmusae
• Rabbit: 토끼, tokki
• Mouse: 쥐, jwi
• Ferret: 흰족제비, huinjogjebi
• Snake: 뱀, baem
• Lizard: 도마뱀, domabaem
• Iguana: 이구아나, iguana
• Turtle: 거북이, geobug-i
• Frog: 개구리, gaeguli
• Hamster: 햄스터, haemseuteo
• Guinea pig: 기니피그, ginipigeu
• Tarantula: 타란툴라 거미, talantulla geomi

In South Korea, dogs are the most popular pet, followed by cats and goldfish.

The Korean Mastiff is the most popular dog breed, but they also love Korean Jindo, Sapsali, Pungsan, Nureongi, and Guejae Gae.

Seriously, look them up if you want a daily dose of cuteness. Jindo puppies will melt your heart!

Wild Animals in Korean

South Korea is home to some beautiful and fascinating animals. And I’ll talk more about native wild animals in South Korea in a bit. This list includes common wild animals you’ll talk about from around the world, not just Korea.

I’ve divided them into two general groups below.

The one that doesn’t quite fit because they no longer exist, but that you may want to know, is:

• Dinosaur: 공룡, gongryong

Of course, there are many kinds of dinosaurs like stegosaurus (스테고사우르스, seutegosauleuseu), but most of them (like stegosaurus), are derived from their English names making them easy to learn. So I won’t list them all here!

Forest, Swamp, Tundra, and Arctic Animals:

• Wolf: 늑대, neukdae
• Bear: 곰, gom
• Deer: 사슴, saseum
• Fox: 여우, yeou
• Bat: 박쥐, bakjwi
• Alligator: 악어, ageo
• Platypus: 오리너구리, orineoguli
• Beaver: 비버, bibeo
• Koala: 코알라, koalla
• Buffalo: 물소, mulso
• Ox: 황소, hwangso
• Raccoon: 너구리, neoguli
• Squirrel: 다람쥐 , daramjwi
• Panda: 판다, panda
• Polar bear: 북극곰, bukgeukgom
• Reindeer: 순록, sunlok

Desert, Savanna, and Rainforest Animals:

• Lion: 사자, saja
• Tiger: 호랑이, horangi
• Giraffe: 기린, girin
• Camel: 낙타, nakta
• Elephant: 코끼리, kokkiri
• Monkey: 원숭이, wonsungi
• Gorilla: 고릴라, gorilla
• Kangaroo: 캥거루, kaengeoru
• Leopard: 표범, pyobeom
• Cheetah: 치타, chita
• Zebra: 얼룩말, eollukmal
• Rhino: 코뿔소, koppulso
• Hyena: 하이에나, haiena
• Antelope: 영양, yeongyang
• Hippo: 하마, hama
• Sloth: 나무늘보, namuneulbo

Birds in Korean

“Bird” in Korean is 새, sae. You can bird watch for them by looking into 나무, namu, or “trees!”

• Hummingbird: 벌새, beolsae
• Eagle: 독수리, doksuri
• Crow: 까마귀, kkamagwi
• Hawk: 매, mae
• Owl: 부엉이, bueongi or 올빼미, olppaemi
• Flamingo: 홍학, honghak
• Seagull: 갈매기, galmaegi
• Pelican: 펠리컨, pellikeon
• Penguin: 펭귄, penggwin
• Pigeon: 비둘기, bidulgi
• Swallow: 제비, jebi
• Peacock: 공작, gongjak
• Ostrich: 타조, tajo
• Swan: 백조, baekjo
• Duck: 오리, ori
• Goose: 거위, geowi
• Crane: 두루미, durumi

Farm Animals in Korean

You’ll find these animals on the farm, or 농장 (nonjang). If you want to say “on the farm” add 에서 (eseo), the particle for “at”, like 농장에서, nonjang-eseo.

• Horse: 말, mal
• Pony: 조랑말, jorangmal
• Donkey: 당나귀, dangnagwi
• Sheep: 양, yang
• Goat: 염소, yeomso
• Cow: 소, so
• Pig: 돼지, daweji
• Chicken: 닭, dak
• Rooster: 수탉, sutak
• Hen: 암탉, amtak
• Turkey: 칠면조, chilmyeonjo

Sea Animals in Korean

At the 바다, bada, or “sea,” you’ll find these sea creatures!

• Dolphin: 돌고래, dolgorae
• Shark: 상어, sangeo
• Whale: 고래, gorae
• Crab: 게, ge
• Lobster: 바닷가재, badatgajae
• Shrimp: 새우, saeo
• Jellyfish: 해파리, haepari
• Octopus: 문어, muneo
• Squid: 오징어, ojingeo
• Seahorse: 해마, haema
• Stingray: 가오리, gaori
• Starfish: 불가사리, bulgasari
• Seal: 물개, mulgae (fun fact: it’s literally “water dog”)
• Sea turtle: 바다거북, badageobuk
• Walrus: 바다 코끼리, bada kokkiri
• Otter: 수달, sudal
• Eel: 장어, jangeo

Insects in Korean

Insects can be real 해충, haechung, or “pests!” But it’s still good to learn their names, especially if you get stung (쏘였다, ssoyeossda) by one.

• Ant: 개미, gaemi
• Caterpillar: 애벌레, aebeolle
• Butterfly: 나비, nabi
• Dragonfly: 잠자리, jamjari
• Grasshopper: 메뚜기, mettugi
• Cockroach: 바퀴벌레, bakwibeolle
• Spider: 거미, geomi
• Beetle:딱정벌레, ttakjeongbeolle
• Bee: 벌, beol
• Beehive: 벌집, beoljib
• Ladybug: 무당벌레, mudangbeolle
• Worm: 벌레, beolle
• Praying Mantis: 사마귀, samagwi
• Mosquito: 모기, mogi
• Tick: 진드기, jindeugi
• Fly: 파리, pari
• Scorpion: 전갈, jeongal

Animal Sounds in Korean

If you’re going to learn how to talk about animals, then you should also learn their animal sounds in Korean.

These onomatopoeia (called 의성, uiseong, in Korean) are common to hear, especially in children’s stories. But other onomatopoeia, like 빵빵 (ppangppang) for “honk honk” of a car horn, are commonly used every day.

• Bark: 멍멍, meongmeong
• Meow: 야옹, yaong
• Purr: 가르랑가르랑, galeurang galeurang
• Moo: 음메, eummae
• Neigh: 히힝, hihing
• Buzz: 윙윙, wingwing
• Roar: 으르렁, eureureong
• Chirp: 짹짹, jjaekjjaek
• Baa: 매, mae
• Hoot: 부엉부엉, bueongbueong
• Oink: 꿀꿀, kkulkkul
• Hiss: 쉬익, swiik
• Croak: 개굴개굴, gaegulgaegul
• Coo: 구구, gugu
• Squeak: 찍찍, jjikjjik
• Caw: 까악까악, kkaakkkaak

Related Animal Words and Phrases

Where does that animal live? Do they fly? Do they swim? This bonus list of related vocab will help you answer that!

Plus, if you need someone to come feed your dog while you’re away, you’ll definitely want to remember 먹이를 주다 (meok-ileul juda)!

• Zoo: 동물원, dongmulwon
• Aquarium: 수족관, sujokgwan
• Forest: 숲, sup
• Swamp: 늪, neup
• Tundra: 동토대, dongtodae
• Arctic: 북극, bukgeuk
• Desert: 사막, samak
• Savanna: 대초원, daechowon
• Rainforest: 열대 우림, yeoldae urim
• Mermaid: 인어, ineo
• Seashell: 조개, jogae
• Coral: 산호, sanho
• Ocean: 대양, daeyang
• Beach: 해변, haebyeon
• Feather: 깃털, gitteol
• Fur: 털, teol
• Gills: 아가미, agami
• Bird house: 새집, saejib
• Bird cage: 새장, saejang
• Dog house: 개집, gaejib
• Dog bed: 개 침대, gae chimdae
• Cat bed: 고양이 침대, goyangi chimdae
• To scratch: 긁다, geukda
• To swim: 수영하다, suyeong hada
• To lick: 핥다, hatda
• To fly: 날다, nalda
• To feed: 먹이를 주다, meok-ileul juda

How to Count Korean Animals

In Korean, you use the counter 마리 (mari) to count the number of animals. You attach it to the Korean number.

For example:

개가 두 마리 있어요.
gae ga du-mari isseoyo.
“I have two dogs.”

그리고 새가 한 마리 있어요.
geurigo sae ga han-mari isseoyo.
“I also have one bird.”

South Korea Animals: What Kind of Animals Live in Korea?

Last up… What animals are unique to Korea?

After all, your studies aren’t complete if you don’t even know about native animals in South Korea!

South Korea has a lot of diverse wildlife thanks to being surrounded by ocean, mountains, valleys and coastal plains.

But a lot of South Korea has modernized and urbanized, which has led to many animals becoming endangered. The Korean government’s been working to build conservations to protect the native animals of Korea from continued harm.

So… What animal is Korea famous for? Well, the Siberian tiger is still the national animal of South Korea, even though tigers no longer live there.

But you probably know of the Korean “vampire” deers — or more formally known as water deers. They have huge canine teeth that hang out of their mouth like tusks, which is where it gets the nickname.

There’s also Siberian musk deer, similar to water deer. They’re much smaller and have a completely different shape from the tall, lanky deer you find in America.

The amur leopard is also native to Korea, and they’re the rarest species of the big cats. Only about 70 remain in the wild, and they live around the forests of the DMZ (Demilitarization Zone, between South and North Korea).

The beautiful white-naped crane is also native to Korea and lives in the area around the DMZ.

Crikey! You Know All About Korean Animals Now!

You might as well be on Animal Planet with all this knowledge. Now you know all about animals in Korean, so it’s best to start using what you learned so you don’t forget!

One way I practice animal names is with my kids. They love animals just like I do (what kid doesn’t?!), so when we read books, watch a show, or go to the zoo? I tell them all the animal names in Korean!

What will you learn next in Korean? Why not choose your next adventure:

• How to Learn Korean Through Music
• 101 Must-Know Korean Verbs
• Learn a Rainbow of Colors in Korean
• Innovative Language Review – Complete Pod101 Language Course Review (with Screenshots and Video Results)
• 35 Free Online Korean Language Classes and Resources