키위
kiwi[cçiɥi]
The English word kiwi is translated into Korean as 키위.
The term refers to the kiwi bird.
Meaning: bird (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kiwi.
Did you know?
- Unlike in New Zealand where 'kiwi' can refer to a person, using 키위 in Korean to describe a human would be completely misunderstood as calling them a fruit.
- Because 키위 is a loanword from English, it is almost exclusively used to refer to the fruit rather than the bird in everyday Korean conversation.
- If you want to specifically talk about the flightless bird, you would likely need to use the descriptive phrase 키위새, adding the Korean word for 'bird' to the end.
Examples in context
- 저는 야채와 과일을 좋아해요. 특히, 키위는 매우 맛있어요.I like vegetables and fruits. Especially, kiwis are very delicious.
- 너무 더운 날씨에는 키위를 먹는 것이 좋아요.On very hot days, it's good to eat kiwi.
- 오늘 아침에 키위 사왔어. 같이 먹을래?I bought kiwis this morning. Do you want to eat them together?
- 키위는 날지 못하는 새예요.kiwi-neun nalji mothaneun saeyeyo.A kiwi is a bird that cannot fly.
- 그 키위는 뉴질랜드에서 왔어요.geu kiwi-neun nyujillandeseo wasseoyo.That kiwi is from New Zealand.
- 박물관에 키위가 있어요.bakmulgwane kiwi-ga isseoyo.There is a kiwi at the museum.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a picture book about animals.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 이 키위가 보여요?Jihoon ssi, i kiwi-ga boyeoyo?Jihoon, do you see this kiwi?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 지은 씨. 정말 귀엽네요.Ne, Jieun ssi. Jeongmal gwiyeomneyo.Yes, Jieun. It is really cute.
- 지은 Ji-eun키위는 털이 아주 많아요.Kiwi-neun teori aju manayo.The kiwi has a lot of feathers.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 신기한 새네요.Jeongmal singihan saeneyo.It is a truly amazing bird.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kiwi” translations and entries 키위, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
