고래
gorae[ko̞ɾɛ]
The Korean word for whale is 고래 (gorae).
고래 is the most common and standard term used to refer to a whale.
Meaning: large sea mammal (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 고래 is the standard term for the animal, the phrase 바다의 거인 can be used to describe whales in a more poetic manner, translating literally to "giant of the sea".
How do you pronounce it?
gorae
Did you know?
- The term 고래 is used in the idiom 고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다, which literally means 'a shrimp's back breaks in a fight between whales'.
- Linguists have found similarities between the Korean 고래 and the Nivkh word ӄалм and Proto-Tungusic *kalimu.
- While 고래 is the animal, the word is also used in the term 고래등, which refers to a high, curved ridge of a mountain that looks like a whale's back.
Examples in context
- 고래를 본 적이 있나요?Have you ever seen a whale?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has ever seen a 고래.Tatoeba #13248470 by qiwiwi, translation #69421 by CK
- 바다에 고래가 나타났어요.bada-e gorae-ga natanasseoyo.A whale appeared in the sea.
- 저기 거대한 고래가 보여요.jeogi geodaehan gorae-ga boyeoyo.I see a huge whale over there.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon and Subin are watching a nature documentary on TV.
- 지훈 Ji-hun저 고래는 정말 크네요.jeo gorae-neun jeongmal keuneyo.That whale is really big.
- 수빈 Su-bin맞아요, 정말 멋져요!majayo, jeongmal meotjyeoyo!You're right, it's wonderful!
- 지훈 Ji-hun수빈 씨는 고래를 좋아해요?Subin ssi-neun gorae-reul joahaeyo?Subin, do you like whales?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 정말 좋아해요.ne, jeongmal joahaeyo.Yes, I love them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “whale” translations and entries 고래, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 고래, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
