Korean Dictionary
How to say "Fish" in Korean
“Fish” in Korean is 물고기 (pronounced "mulgogi").
물고기
mulgogi
Usage & Context
An aquatic animal commonly kept in aquariums throughout Korea. Fish are important in Korean cuisine and culture. The term mulgogi literally means water animal.
Example Sentence
물고기가 수족관에서 헤엄쳐요.
The fish swims in the aquarium.
How to use 물고기 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Fish” is 물고기, romanized as mulgogi.
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 물고기.
Pronunciation Guide
Three syllables: 'mul-go-gi.' 'Mul' rhymes with 'mool,' 'go' like 'go,' and 'gi' like 'gee' but softer. Together: 'MOOL-go-gee.' Literally means 'water meat/creature.'
More Example Sentences
Describing a trip to the aquarium with kids
수족관에 예쁜 물고기가 많아요.
There are a lot of pretty fish in the aquarium.
Sharing childhood pet memories
어릴 때 물고기를 집에서 키웠어요.
I kept fish at home when I was young.
Describing local wildlife
이 강에는 물고기가 많이 살아요.
A lot of fish live in this river.
Cultural Context
There are two main words for 'fish' in Korean and they split by context: 물고기 refers to the living animal swimming in water, while 생선 is the fish once it's on your plate (fresh fish) and 회 is raw sashimi. Saying '물고기를 먹는다' to mean 'I'm eating fish' sounds a little odd — Koreans will say 생선 or specify the fish (고등어, 삼치, 연어 등). Fishing as a hobby is called 낚시 and is wildly popular, especially at reservoirs and coastal breakwaters.
Editorial note
We review entries like 물고기 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
물고기 키워요.
I keep fish (as pets).
물고기가 많아요.
There are a lot of fish.
물고기 밥 줬어요?
Did you feed the fish?
Related Expressions
생선
saengseon
Fish (as food)
회
hoe
Raw fish / sashimi
수족관
sujokgwan
Aquarium
낚시
naksi
Fishing
More Animals Words
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