Here Are the Funniest Animal Sounds and More in Korean Onomatopoeia
Today I want to about how different animals sound in Korean vs English.
I love comparing onomatopoeia (의성어) because they’re so funny in other languages.
This post also covers objects and people sounds that don’t exist in English.
Let’s check them out!
Onomatopoeia are words that imitate the sounds they describe.
They’re cultural and differ around the world. It’s only when you start learning another language you realize how cute they are.
Even though you don’t hear onomatopoeia everyday, they’re a great ice breaker or way to study Korean.
Table of Contents
Animal Sounds
Animal sounds are my favorite to compare with English. They’re usually so different (except for the pigeon sound). Onomatopoeia show how much language and culture shape your worldview.
| Name (English) | Sound | Name (Korean) | Sound |
| Bee | Buzz | 벌 (beol) | 윙윙 (wing-wing) |
| Bird | Tweet | 새 (sae) | 짹짹 (jjack-jjack) |
| Cat | Meow | 고양이 (go-yang-ee) | 야옹 (ya-ong) |
| Chick | Cheep | 병아리 (byeong-ah-ri) | 삐악삐악 (bbi-yak-bbi-yak) |
| Chicken (Hen) | Cluck | 암탉 (am-tak) | 꼬꼬댁 (kko-kko-deck) |
| Chicken (Rooster) | Cock-a-doodle-doo | 수탉 (su-tak) | 꼬끼오 (kko-kki-oh) |
| Cicada | ??? | 매미 (mae-mi) | 맴맴 (maem-maem) |
| Cow | Moo | 소 (so) | 음메 (um-meh) |
| Dog | Woof | 개 (gae) | 멍멍 (meong-meong) |
| Duck | Quack | 오리 (oh-ri) | 꽥꽥 (quack-quack) |
| Frog | Ribbit | 개구리 (gae-gu-ri) | 개굴개굴 (gae-gul-gae-gul) |
| Horse | Neigh | 말 (mal) | 히히힝 (hee-hee-hing) |
| Mouse | Squeak | 쥐 (jwi) | 찍찍 (jjik-jjik) |
| Owl | Hoo | 부엉이 (bu-eong-ee) | 부엉 부엉 (bu-eong-bu-eong) |
| Pig | Oink | 돼지 (dwae-ji) | 꿀꿀 (kkul-kkul) |
| Pigeon | Coo Coo | 비둘기 (bi-dul-gi) | 구구 (goo-goo) |
| Rabbit | Thump | 토끼 (to-kki) | 깡총깡총 (kkang-chong-kkang-chong) |
| Sheep | Baa | 양 (yang) | 메에 (meh-eh) |
| Tiger | Growl | 호랑이 (ho-rang-ee) | 어흥 (eo-heung) |
Object Sounds
| Boiling water | Bubble Bubble | 끓는 물 (ggeul-neun-mul) | 부글 부글 (boo-geul-boo-geul) |
| Clock | Tick Tock | 시계 (shi-gye) | 째깍째깍 (jjae-kkak-jjae-kkak) |
| Honk | Honk Honk | 경적 (gyeong-jeok) | 빵빵 (bbang-bbang) |
| Phone | Ring ring | 전화 (jeon-hwa) | 따르릉 (tta-reu-reung) |
| Rain | Pitter Patter | 비 (bee) | 후두두 (hoo-doo-doo) |
| Sizzle | Sizzle Sizzle | 지글지글 (ji-geul-ji-geul) | 지글지글 (ji-geul-ji-geul) |
| Splash | Splash | 첨벙 (cheom-beong) | 첨벙 (cheom-beong) |
| Train | Choo Choo | 기차 (gi-cha) | 칙칙폭폭 (chik-chik-pok-pok) |
People Sounds
| Being in a Hurry/Confused | ??? | 서두르다 (seo-du-reu-da) | 헐레 벌떡 (heol-le-beol-tteok) |
| Clap | Clap Clap | 박수 (bak-su) | 짝짝 (jjak-jjak) |
| Crying | Boo Hoo | 우는 소리 (woo-neun-so-ri) | 엉엉 (eong-eong) |
| Eating Happily | Nom Nom | 먹는 소리 (meok-neun-so-ri) | 냠냠냠 (nyam-nyam-nyam) |
| Heartbeat | Lub Dub | 심장 박동 (sim-jang-bak-dong) | 두근두근 (du-geun-du-geun) |
| Knock | Knock Knock | 노크 (no-keu) | 똑똑똑 (ttok-ttok-ttok) |
| Mumble | Mumble Mumble | 중얼중얼 (jung-eol-jung-eol) | 중얼중얼 (jung-eol-jung-eol) |
| Snoring | Zzzz | 자는 소리 (ja-neun-so-ri) | 쿨쿨 (cool-cool) |
| Tap | Tap Tap | 톡톡 (tok-tok) | 톡톡 (tok-tok) |
Learning Korean
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Now it’s your turn
I want to hear from you.
Let us know which Korean onomatopoeia we missed in the comments!
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