Korean Dictionary
How to say "Elephant" in Korean
“Elephant” in Korean is 코끼리 (pronounced "kkokkili").
코끼리
kkokkili
Usage & Context
The largest land animal, known for its intelligence and memory. Elephants are popular in Korean zoos and educational settings. They symbolize wisdom and longevity in Asian cultures.
Example Sentence
코끼리의 코는 길어요.
The elephant has a long trunk.
How to use 코끼리 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Elephant” is 코끼리, romanized as kkokkili.
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 코끼리.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '코' (kko), sounds like 'koh' with a strong, aspirated 'k' sound. '끼' (kki) is like 'key' with another strong 'k.' '리' (li) sounds like 'lee.' So, it's pronounced 'koh-key-lee.'
More Example Sentences
Recounting a visit to the zoo.
동물원에서 코끼리를 봤어요.
I saw an elephant at the zoo.
Sharing a common fact about elephants.
코끼리는 기억력이 좋다고 해요.
They say elephants have good memories.
Describing a toddler's heavy footsteps.
아기가 코끼리처럼 쿵쿵 걸어요.
The baby walks heavily like an elephant.
Cultural Context
Elephants (코끼리) are not native to Korea but are well-known through zoos, media, and global culture. In Asian cultures generally, elephants symbolize wisdom, strength, and good luck, and these associations are also understood in Korea. While not deeply embedded in Korean folklore like bears or tigers, their image is universally recognized and appreciated, often appearing in children's stories and educational content.
Editorial note
We review entries like 코끼리 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
코끼리 열차
elephant train (a type of tourist train, often at zoos/parks)
코끼리처럼 크다
to be big like an elephant
코끼리 발자국
elephant footprint
Related Expressions
코끼리 코
kokkili ko
elephant's trunk
코끼리 다리
kokkili dari
elephant's leg (can be used to describe thick legs)
아기 코끼리
agi kokkili
baby elephant
코끼리 상아
kokkili sanga
elephant ivory
More Animals Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Elephant and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
