How to Say "Turkey" in Korean

칠면조

chilmyeonjo[t͡ɕʰiɭmjʌ̹ɲd͡ʑo̞]

The English word 'turkey' (the bird) is 칠면조 (chilmyeonjo) in Korean.

The term 칠면조 refers specifically to the bird in the genus Meleagris.

Meaning: bird in the genus Meleagris (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word 칠면조 literally means 'seven-faced bird'.

It is important to distinguish between the bird and the country. Use 칠면조 for the bird, but use 튀르키예 or 터키 for the country to avoid confusion.

chilmyeonjo

The 'seven faces' in 칠면조 refer to the bird's changing skin colors. As the turkey becomes excited, the skin on its head and neck shifts rapidly between red, white and blue.
While English speakers associate 'turkey' with Thanksgiving, Koreans primarily associate 칠면조 with Western culture or luxury hotel menus, as it is not a traditional Korean food.
The term 칠면조 is composed of Hanja, meaning the 'seven-faced' description is rooted in Chinese characters rather than native Korean sounds.

많은 사람들은 크리스마스 때 칠면조를 먹어.
Many people eat turkey on Christmas Day.
This sentence shows how 칠면조 is used when discussing eating the bird during Christmas.
Tatoeba #8394179 by Eunhee, translation #7653870 by CK
저는 터키에서 온 학생입니다.
I am a student from Turkey.
칠면조는 아주 큰 새예요.
chilmyeonjoneun aju keun saeyeyo.
A turkey is a very large bird.
박물관에서 칠면조 그림을 봤어요.
bangmulgwan-eseo chilmyeonjo geurimeul bwasseoyo.
I saw a drawing of a turkey at the museum.

Minjun and Seoyeon are looking at a picture book about animals.

민준 Min-jun

서연아, 이 새는 뭐야?
Seoyeon-a, i saeneun mwoya?
Seoyeon, what is this bird?
서연 Seo-yeon

그건 칠면조야.
Geugeon chilmyeonjoya.
That is a turkey.
민준 Min-jun

칠면조는 정말 멋지게 생겼다!
Chilmyeonjoneun jeongmal meotjige saenggyeotda!
The turkey looks really cool!
서연 Seo-yeon

맞아, 민준아. 정말 신기하지?
Maja, Minjun-a. Jeongmal singihaji?
Right, Minjun. Isn't it amazing?

Sources

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