북극곰
Bukgeukgom[puk̚k͈ɯk̚k͈o̞m]
The English phrase "polar bear" is translated into Korean as 북극곰 (Bukgeukgom). Wiktionary also lists 흰곰 (huin'gom).
Meaning: Ursus maritimus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 북극곰 | Bukgeukgom | [puk̚k͈ɯk̚k͈o̞m] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 흰곰 | huin'gom | [çinɡo̞m] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The word refers to the species *Ursus maritimus*.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 흰곰 is a compound of 흰, which means white and 곰, which means bear.
Which one should you use?
북극곰 is the standard, specific name for the species 'polar bear', whereas 흰곰 is a more descriptive term meaning 'white bear'.
How do you pronounce it?
Bukgeukgom
Did you know?
- In Korean, the word for 'bear', 곰, can also be used as a slang term to describe someone who is slow-witted or clumsy, though this is a play on the animal's reputation rather than its color.
- The term 북극곰 is shared across East Asia, mirroring the structure used in Chinese and Japanese to mean 'North Pole bear'.
- The word 흰 in 흰곰 is an irregular form of the adjective 'white', which changes its spelling based on the noun it modifies.
Examples in context
- 북극곰이 정말 귀여워요!Polar bears are really adorable!
- 북극곰은 하얀색이에요.bukgeukgomeun hayansaegieyo.Polar bears are white.
- 북극곰이 정말 귀여워요.bukgeukgomi jeongmal gwiyeowoyo.The polar bear is really cute.
- 동물원에 북극곰이 있어요.dongmulwone bukgeukgomi isseoyo.There is a polar bear at the zoo.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Subin are looking at animals in a picture book.
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈, 여기 북극곰 좀 봐.Subin, yeogi bukgeukgom jom bwa.Subin, look at this polar bear here.
- 수빈 Su-bin와, 털이 정말 하얗다!wa, teori jeongmal hayata!Wow, its fur is really white!
- 도현 Do-hyeon북극곰은 추운 곳에 살아요.bukgeukgom-eun chuun gose sarayo.Polar bears live in cold places.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말 신기한 동물이야.jeongmal singihan dongmuriya.It is a truly amazing animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “polar bear” translations and entries 북극곰, 흰곰, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 북극곰, 흰곰, CC BY-SA 4.0.
