Korean Dictionary
How to say "Crow" in Korean
“Crow” in Korean is 까마귀 (pronounced "kkamagwi").
까마귀
kkamagwi
Usage & Context
A common black bird found throughout Korea. Crows are intelligent birds that appear frequently in Korean urban areas. They hold symbolic meaning in Korean folklore and art.
Example Sentence
까마귀가 울어요.
The crow caws.
How to use 까마귀 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Crow” is 까마귀, romanized as kkamagwi.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 까마귀.
Pronunciation Guide
To pronounce "까마귀" (kkamagwi), say 'Kka-ma-gwi'. 'Kka' is a tense 'k' sound followed by 'ah' like in 'car'. 'Ma' is like 'mah' in 'mama'. 'Gwi' is like 'gwee' in 'sweet'. The stress is on the first syllable, 'Kka'.
More Example Sentences
Someone complaining about urban noise.
아침에 까마귀 소리가 시끄럽게 들렸어요.
I heard noisy crow caws in the morning.
A curious person asking for confirmation.
까마귀는 똑똑한 새라고 하던데요?
They say crows are smart birds, don't they?
An observation of a common urban bird.
까마귀가 전봇대 위에 앉아 있었어요.
A crow was sitting on a utility pole.
Cultural Context
In Korean folklore, '까마귀' (crow) holds a complex and sometimes contradictory symbolism. While often associated with bad omens or misfortune in older traditions (especially its cawing), it is also revered as a messenger of the sun in some ancient myths (삼족오, Samjok-o, a three-legged crow). In modern Korea, crows are a very common sight in cities and rural areas, known for their intelligence. They are often depicted in children's stories as clever but sometimes mischievous. The proverb '까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다' (kkamagwi nalja bae tteoreojinda) means 'when the crow flies, a pear falls,' implying a coincidental event mistakenly thought to be cause and effect.
Editorial note
We review entries like 까마귀 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
까마귀 소리
Crow caw/sound
까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다
When the crow flies, a pear falls (proverb for coincidental events)
까마귀 떼
A flock of crows
Related Expressions
까치
kkachi
Magpie (often contrasted with crows, seen as a good omen)
갈매기
galmaegi
Seagull
새
sae
Bird
불길한 징조
bulgilhan jingjo
Bad omen
More Animals Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Crow and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
