117 Korean Animal Names: Pets, Wildlife, Sounds, and More

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Animals are a useful Korean vocabulary theme because the words turn up in daily life, children’s stories, signs, nature programmes and conversations about pets.

This guide gives you exactly 117 animal names in Korean, then adds animal sounds, related words, the counter 마리 and a practical way to learn the vocabulary. Romanisation follows Revised Romanization as a reading cue, but it cannot replace listening to Korean audio.

Do not try to memorise the whole page in one sitting. Pick a category you will actually use, learn five words, and put them into short phrases before adding more.

A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Korean for at least 15 minutes with the “Fluent in 3 Months” method. All it takes is 90 days. Tap this link to find out more.

Pets and Household Animals in Korean

The general word for “animal” is 동물 (dongmul). For “pet,” you will see both 애완동물 (aewandongmul) and 반려동물 (ballyeodongmul). 반려동물 foregrounds the animal as a companion; 애완동물 is an older general pet term. Usage depends on the speaker and context, so it is more useful to recognise both than to declare one universally preferred.

To ask before touching someone’s dog, you can say:

이 강아지를 쓰다듬어도 돼요?
I gangajireul sseudadeumeodo dwaeyo?
“May I pet this dog?”

쓰다듬다 (sseudadeumda) means “to stroke” or “to pet.” 강아지 literally means “puppy,” and speakers can also use it affectionately for a dog. 만지다 (manjida) means “to touch,” which is broader and does not by itself mean petting an animal.

• Dog: 개 (gae)
• Puppy; affectionate “doggie”: 강아지 (gangaji)
• Cat: 고양이 (goyangi)
• Kitten: 새끼 고양이 (saekki goyangi)
• Fish (the animal): 물고기 (mulgogi)
• Goldfish: 금붕어 (geumbungeo)
• Bird: 새 (sae)
• Parrot: 앵무새 (aengmusae)
• Rabbit: 토끼 (tokki)
• Mouse: 쥐 (jwi)
• Ferret: 페럿 (peret)
• Snake: 뱀 (baem)
• Lizard: 도마뱀 (domabaem)
• Iguana: 이구아나 (iguana)
• Turtle or tortoise: 거북이 (geobugi)
• Frog: 개구리 (gaeguri)
• Hamster: 햄스터 (haemseuteo)
• Guinea pig: 기니피그 (ginipigeu)
• Tarantula: 타란툴라 (tarantulla)

물고기 refers to a fish as an animal. 생선 (saengseon) usually refers to fish as food or an ingredient, so the distinction is about context rather than whether the fish is literally alive at that moment.

Wild Animals in Korean

The word for “wild animal” is 야생 동물 (yasaeng dongmul). The first wild-animal word in this count is one you will meet in museums and stories rather than outside:

• Dinosaur: 공룡 (gongnyong)

A specific dinosaur name is often adapted as a loanword. For example, “stegosaurus” is 스테고사우루스 (seutegosauruseu).

Forest, Wetland, Tundra, and Arctic Animals

• Wolf: 늑대 (neukdae)
• Bear: 곰 (gom)
• Deer: 사슴 (saseum)
• Fox: 여우 (yeou)
• Bat: 박쥐 (bakjwi)
• Crocodile; crocodilian: 악어 (ageo)
• Platypus: 오리너구리 (orineoguri)
• Beaver: 비버 (bibeo)
• Koala: 코알라 (koalla)
• Water buffalo: 물소 (mulso)
• Raccoon dog: 너구리 (neoguri)
• Squirrel: 다람쥐 (daramjwi)
• Panda: 판다 (panda)
• Polar bear: 북극곰 (bukgeukgom)
• Reindeer: 순록 (sullok)

악어 is the broad everyday word used for crocodilians. If the biological distinction between a crocodile and an alligator matters, confirm the species name rather than assuming the English categories map one-to-one. 너구리 is a raccoon dog, while 라쿤 is the loanword used for a raccoon.

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 (eollungmal)
• Rhinoceros: 코뿔소 (koppulso)
• Hyena: 하이에나 (haiena)
• Antelope: 영양 (yeongyang)
• Hippopotamus: 하마 (hama)
• Sloth: 나무늘보 (namuneulbo)

Birds in Korean

The general word for “bird” is 새 (sae). Korean distinguishes several owl groups in everyday vocabulary, so 올빼미 and 부엉이 are not simply interchangeable labels in every zoological context.

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

Farm Animals in Korean

“Farm” is 농장 (nongjang). 농장에서 (nongjangeseo) means “at/on the farm,” with 에서 marking the place where an activity happens.

• Horse: 말 (mal)
• Pony: 조랑말 (jorangmal)
• Donkey: 당나귀 (dangnagwi)
• Sheep: 양 (yang)
• Goat: 염소 (yeomso)
• Cow; cattle: 소 (so)
• Bull: 황소 (hwangso)
• Pig: 돼지 (dwaeji)
• Chicken: 닭 (dak)
• Rooster: 수탉 (sutak)
• Hen: 암탉 (amtak)
• Turkey: 칠면조 (chilmyeonjo)

Sea Animals in Korean

바다 (bada) is the everyday word for “sea” and can also cover “ocean” in many contexts.

• Dolphin: 돌고래 (dolgorae)
• Shark: 상어 (sangeo)
• Whale: 고래 (gorae)
• Crab: 게 (ge)
• Lobster: 바닷가재 (badatgajae)
• Shrimp: 새우 (saeu)
• Jellyfish: 해파리 (haepari)
• Octopus: 문어 (muneo)
• Squid: 오징어 (ojingeo)
• Seahorse: 해마 (haema)
• Ray; stingray: 가오리 (gaori)
• Starfish: 불가사리 (bulgasari)
• True seal: 물범 (mulbeom)
• Fur seal: 물개 (mulgae)
• Sea lion: 바다사자 (badasaja)
• Sea turtle: 바다거북 (badageobuk)
• Walrus: 바다코끼리 (badakokkiri)
• Sea otter: 해달 (haedal)
• Eel: 장어 (jangeo)

가오리 is a broad word for rays, so use a more specific species name when “stingray” rather than another ray is important. Compounds such as 바다거북 and 바다코끼리 are normally written without the spaces shown in some older learner lists.

Insects and Other Small Creatures in Korean

Not everything in this section is an insect. Spiders, ticks and scorpions are arachnids, and “worm” is a broad English label. The heading keeps them together as a practical vocabulary set without making a biological claim.

• 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)
• Centipede: 지네 (jine)
• Ladybug: 무당벌레 (mudangbeolle)
• Worm; bug: 벌레 (beolle)
• Praying mantis: 사마귀 (samagwi)
• Mosquito: 모기 (mogi)
• Tick: 진드기 (jindeugi)
• Fly: 파리 (pari)
• Scorpion: 전갈 (jeongal)

Animal Sounds in Korean

An onomatopoeic word is 의성어 (uiseongeo) in Korean. These spellings imitate sounds as Korean speakers represent them; they are not literal translations of English “woof,” “moo” or “oink.” Forms can vary by speaker, story and the length or intensity of the sound.

• Dog bark: 멍멍 (meongmeong)
• Cat meow: 야옹 (yaong)
• Cat purr: 가르랑가르랑 (gareuranggareurang)
• Cow moo: 음메 (eumme)
• Horse neigh: 히힝 (hihing)
• Buzz: 윙윙 (wingwing)
• Growl or roar: 으르렁 (eureureong)
• Small-bird chirp: 짹짹 (jjaekjjaek)
• Sheep or goat bleat: 매애 (mae-ae)
• Owl hoot: 부엉부엉 (bueongbueong)
• Pig oink: 꿀꿀 (kkulkkul)
• Hiss: 쉬익 (swiik)
• Frog croak: 개굴개굴 (gaegulgaegul)
• Pigeon coo: 구구 (gugu)
• Mouse squeak: 찍찍 (jjikjjik)
• Crow caw: 까악까악 (kkaakkkaak)

Related Animal Words and Phrases

These words help you say where an animal lives, describe its body or talk about caring for it:

• Zoo: 동물원 (dongmulwon)
• Aquarium: 수족관 (sujokgwan)
• Forest: 숲 (sup)
• Swamp: 늪 (neup)
• Tundra: 툰드라 (tundeura)
• Arctic: 북극 (bukgeuk)
• Desert: 사막 (samak)
• Savanna: 사바나 (sabana)
• Rainforest: 열대 우림 (yeoldae urim)
• Seashell: 조개껍데기 (jogaekkeopdegi)
• Coral: 산호 (sanho)
• Sea or ocean: 바다 (bada)
• Ocean: 대양 (daeyang)
• Beach: 해변 (haebyeon)
• Feather: 깃털 (gitteol)
• Fur or hair: 털 (teol)
• Gills: 아가미 (agami)
• Birdhouse: 새집 (saejip)
• Birdcage: 새장 (saejang)
• Beehive: 벌집 (beoljip)
• Doghouse: 개집 (gaejip)
• Dog bed: 강아지 침대 (gangaji chimdae)
• Cat bed: 고양이 침대 (goyangi chimdae)
• To stroke or pet: 쓰다듬다 (sseudadeumda)
• To touch: 만지다 (manjida)
• To scratch: 긁다 (geukda)
• To swim: 수영하다 (suyeonghada)
• To lick: 핥다 (haltda)
• To fly: 날다 (nalda)
• To feed; give food: 먹이를 주다 (meogireul juda)

How to Count Animals in Korean

마리 (mari) is the usual counter for animals. Put a native Korean number before it. Several numbers take a shortened form before a counter:

• 하나 → 한 마리 (hana → han mari) – one animal
• 둘 → 두 마리 (dul → du mari) – two animals
• 셋 → 세 마리 (set → se mari) – three animals
• 넷 → 네 마리 (net → ne mari) – four animals
• 스물 → 스무 마리 (seumul → seumu mari) – twenty animals

강아지가 두 마리 있어요.
Gangajiga du mari isseoyo.
“There are two dogs.”

고양이 한 마리를 키워요.
Goyangi han marireul kiwoyo.
“I have/raise one cat.”

The noun itself does not need a separate plural ending in these examples; the number and counter carry the count.

Korean Wildlife Names Without the Outdated Claims

Older wildlife articles often mix up three different claims: an animal has a Korean name, it occurs somewhere on the Korean Peninsula, and it currently has a wild population in South Korea. Those statements are not interchangeable.

You may meet these names in Korean wildlife and conservation reporting:

• Korean water deer: 고라니 (gorani)
• Wild boar: 멧돼지 (metdwaeji)
• Asiatic black bear: 반달가슴곰 (bandalgaseumgom)
• White-naped crane: 재두루미 (jaedurumi)
• Amur leopard: 아무르표범 (amureupyobeom)

These animals are not all unique to Korea, and a name does not prove a current range or population. Conservation status and distribution change, so check a current scientific or government source before repeating a number or claiming that a species lives in a particular South Korean region. This is why the old tiger, leopard, crane and DMZ population claims are not carried forward here.

How to Learn Korean Animal Words

I practise animal vocabulary with my kids when we read a book, watch a programme or visit a zoo. The pictures create an obvious prompt, so we can retrieve the Korean word instead of translating from a written English list.

Try the same idea with a small set:

1. Choose five animals from one category.
2. Look at a picture and say the Korean word aloud.
3. Add one useful chunk, such as 두 마리 or 동물원에서.
4. Check the word and pronunciation with a teacher, conversation partner or reliable audio dictionary.
5. Retrieve the same five words the next day, then use them in a new sentence later in the week.

For your next set, combine these nouns with a verb or another vocabulary theme. A shorter list you can use beats 117 words you have only seen once.

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