우리 고양이
uri goyangi
The Korean phrase for "my cat" is 우리 고양이 (uri goyangi).
우리 고양이 is used to refer to a cat that belongs to the speaker or their family.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 우리 (uri) literally means "our".
How do you pronounce it?
uri goyangi
What mistakes should you avoid?
While 나의 고양이 (na-ui goyangi) is grammatically correct, it sounds unnatural and overly individualistic in most social contexts compared to 우리 고양이.
When do people say it?
In Korean, it is culturally standard to use 'our' (우리) instead of 'my' (나의) when referring to things that belong to a person or a family unit.
Did you know?
- The word 우리 is used for family members and the home, but you would generally not use it for a personal item like a toothbrush or a wallet.
- The word for cat, 고양이 (goyangi), contains a tiny linguistic history of diminutives. It is believed to have evolved from the older word 괴 (goe), with the suffix -앙이 (-ang'i) adding a sense of endearment or smallness.
Examples in context
- 우리 고양이가 이것을 좋아할 것이다.My cat will love this.This sentence is useful for expressing what 우리 고양이 will like.Tatoeba #11105949 by intertime, translation #1792465 by Spamster
- 우리 고양이Our cat
- 우리 고양이는 잠이 많아요.uri goyangineun jami manayo.My cat sleeps a lot.
- 우리 고양이가 정말 귀여워요.uri goyangiga jeongmal gwiyewoyo.My cat is really cute.
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are talking about pets.
- 민준 Min-jun서연 씨는 고양이를 키워요?Seoyeon ssineun goyang-ireul kiwoyo?Seoyeon, do you have a cat?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 우리 고양이는 아주 활발해요.ne, uri goyang-ineun aju hwalbalhaeyo.Yes, my cat is very active.
- 민준 Min-jun사진 좀 보여줄 수 있어요?sajin jom boyeojul su isseoyo?Can you show me a picture?
- 서연 Seo-yeon그럼요, 여기 보세요!geureomyo, yeogi boseyo!Of course, look here!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 고양이, 우리, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
