Korean Animals Vocabulary: 50+ Animals and Their Names

Animals are among the first vocabulary any language learner encounters, and Korean animal words reveal fascinating layers of culture, mythology, and linguistic structure. The word for animal itself, 동물 (dongmul), literally means "moving thing," a straightforward Sino-Korean compound that reflects how Korean builds vocabulary from Chinese character roots.

With approximately 77 million native speakers according to Ethnologue's 2024 data, Korean is one of the most studied languages worldwide. The King Sejong Institute Foundation reports over 16 million active learners globally, many drawn in by K-dramas and K-pop where animal vocabulary appears constantly, from pet nicknames to zodiac discussions to the tiger symbolism woven through Korean storytelling.

"Korean's animal vocabulary is a window into the peninsula's cultural history. The tiger, bear, magpie, and dragon are not merely zoological terms but carry centuries of mythological, philosophical, and symbolic weight that shapes everyday language use."

(Academy of Korean Studies, Encyclopedia of Korean Culture)

This guide covers 50+ animal names organized by category, with Hangul, romanized pronunciation, cultural notes, onomatopoeia, and the essential 마리 (mari) counter system.

Pets and Domestic Animals

Pet culture has exploded in South Korea over the past decade. The term 반려동물 (ballyeo dongmul, "companion animal") has largely replaced the older 애완동물 (aewan dongmul, "pet animal") in official and media usage, reflecting a cultural shift toward viewing pets as family members rather than possessions.

Farm Animals

Korea's agricultural history stretches back thousands of years, and farm animal vocabulary reflects the peninsula's traditional rural economy. Several of these words appear in proverbs, idioms, and the Korean zodiac (띠, tti).

Wild Animals

Korea's mountainous terrain (over 70% of the peninsula is mountainous) supports diverse wildlife. The 호랑이 (tiger) and 곰 (bear) hold special status in Korean mythology, both appearing in the nation's founding legend.

Sea Animals

The Korean peninsula is surrounded by sea on three sides, and seafood is central to Korean cuisine and culture. Many sea animal names double as food vocabulary, an important distinction that Korean marks lexically.

Birds

Korea sits along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of the world's major migratory bird routes, making it home to hundreds of bird species. The IUCN notes several species unique to or concentrated in the Korean peninsula.

The 까치 (kkachi, magpie) deserves special attention. According to the Academy of Korean Studies, magpies have been considered messengers of good fortune in Korea for centuries. The famous folk tale 견우직녀 (Gyeonu Jingnyeo, the Korean version of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl legend) features magpies forming a bridge across the Milky Way. When a magpie calls in the morning, Koreans traditionally say it signals a welcome guest will arrive that day.

Insects and Small Creatures

Korean has rich vocabulary for insects and small creatures, many of which appear in children's songs, seasonal expressions, and cultural references.

The Korean Zodiac: 12 Animals

The Korean zodiac (띠, tti) follows the same 12-animal cycle found across East Asia but uses native Korean animal names. Asking "무슨 띠예요?" (museun ttiyeyo?, what's your zodiac sign?) is a common and culturally natural way to learn someone's age in Korean society, where age and hierarchy significantly shape social interactions.

In Korean culture, 돼지 (pig) is not an insult; it symbolizes wealth, fortune, and abundance. Dreaming of a pig is considered extremely lucky, and piggy banks (돼지 저금통, dwaeji jeogeumtong) are as culturally embedded in Korea as they are in the West. The 용 (dragon) year is considered the most auspicious, and birth rates in Korea historically spike during dragon years.

Counting Animals: The 마리 Counter

Korean uses a specific counter word for animals: 마리 (mari). This single counter applies to every animal regardless of size, from mosquitoes to whales. You must use native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋), not Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼), with this counter.

The pattern is: noun + native Korean number + 마리. For example, 호랑이 두 마리가 있어요 (horangi du mariga isseoyo, there are two tigers). This counter is one of many in Korean: 명 (myeong) is used for people, 개 (gae) for general objects, and 권 (gwon) for books. If you have already studied Korean numbers, adding 마리 to your toolkit is straightforward.

Korean Animal Proverbs

Animals feature prominently in Korean proverbs (속담, sokdam), and learning these expressions gives you insight into Korean values and humor.

• 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다 (horangido je mal hamyeon onda): "Even the tiger comes when you speak of it." The Korean equivalent of "speak of the devil." Used when someone you were just discussing unexpectedly appears.

• 개천에서 용 난다 (gaecheoneseo yong nanda): "A dragon rises from a ditch." Describes someone who achieves greatness despite humble origins. One of the most beloved Korean proverbs, frequently cited in discussions of social mobility.

• 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 (wonsungido namuaeseo tteoreojinda): "Even a monkey falls from a tree." Nobody is perfect; even experts make mistakes.

• 꿩 대신 닭 (kkwong daesin dak): "A chicken instead of a pheasant." When you cannot get what you want, a substitute will do. Similar to "beggars can't be choosers."

• 고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다 (gorae ssaume saeu deung teojinda): "In a whale fight, the shrimp's back bursts." When powerful entities clash, the small and powerless suffer. This proverb is frequently used in Korean political and economic commentary.

Animals in Korean Media and Entertainment

Korean dramas, films, and music are filled with animal references, and recognizing these words enriches your viewing experience. The global phenomenon 오징어 게임 (Ojingeo Geim, Squid Game) put 오징어 directly into the international vocabulary. The viral children's song 아기상어 (Agi Sangeo, Baby Shark) by Korean company Pinkfong became the most-viewed YouTube video of all time, introducing millions to basic Korean animal words.

In K-dramas, characters are frequently compared to animals: someone with fox-like cunning is called 여우 같은 (yeou gateun, fox-like), while a loyal and straightforward person might be described as 개 같은 (gae gateun), though this expression can also be used as an insult depending on context and tone. The 구미호 (gumiho, nine-tailed fox) from Korean folklore has inspired dozens of dramas and films, including the popular series "내 여자친구는 구미호" (My Girlfriend is a Gumiho).

For immersive practice hearing animal vocabulary in natural Korean, check out the best Korean dramas to learn Korean. Watching with Wordy lets you tap any word in the subtitles to see its Hangul, pronunciation, and meaning instantly.

Build Your Korean Animal Vocabulary

Animal vocabulary connects to nearly every aspect of Korean language and culture, from zodiac conversations and proverbs to food ordering and K-drama comprehension. The words in this guide appear in everyday Korean speech far more often than you might expect, because animals are embedded in idioms, expressions, and cultural references that native speakers use daily.

Start with the pets and farm animals, which appear most frequently in conversation, then expand to wildlife and sea creatures as you encounter them in Korean media. The cultural notes (the tiger in folklore, the magpie as a good omen, the pig as a symbol of wealth) are just as important as the vocabulary itself, because they help you understand why Koreans react to animal references the way they do.

Explore more vocabulary guides on our blog, or visit our Korean learning page to practice animal words through authentic Korean content with interactive subtitles.