Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hedgehog" in Korean
“Hedgehog” in Korean is 고슴도치 (pronounced "goseumdochi").
고슴도치
goseumdochi
Usage & Context
A small spiky animal that curls into a ball for protection. Hedgehogs are sometimes kept as pets in Korea. They are symbols of cuteness and self-defense.
Example Sentence
고슴도치가 공처럼 말려있어요.
The hedgehog curls into a ball.
How to use 고슴도치 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hedgehog” is 고슴도치, romanized as goseumdochi.
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 고슴도치.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'go-seum-do-chi' — 'goseum' rhymes with 'go-some,' and 'dochi' has a soft 'ch' like in 'chip.' Four short, even syllables.
More Example Sentences
chatting about pet trends
요즘 고슴도치를 반려동물로 키우는 사람이 많아졌어요.
More people are keeping hedgehogs as pets these days.
warning a child not to touch one
고슴도치 가시에 찔리면 아파요.
It hurts if you get pricked by hedgehog spines.
quoting a Korean proverb about parental bias
자기 새끼는 다 예뻐 보인다고, 고슴도치도 자기 새끼가 제일 예쁘대.
They say even a hedgehog thinks its own baby is the prettiest.
Cultural Context
Korean has a famous proverb, '고슴도치도 제 새끼가 함함하다고 한다' — literally 'even the hedgehog says its own baby is smooth,' meaning every parent thinks their own child is perfect, no matter how prickly. Hedgehogs are also a popular exotic pet in Korea, sold in specialty '이색동물' (exotic animal) shops and on platforms like 당근마켓 — the African pygmy hedgehog is the most common breed. They show up as a recurring cute character in webtoons and stickers, often drawn with a tiny apple on their back, and the comedian Yoo Jae-suk's nickname on older variety shows included 고슴도치 references for his bristly hairstyle.
Editorial note
We review entries like 고슴도치 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
고슴도치를 키우다
to keep a hedgehog as a pet
고슴도치처럼 웅크리다
to curl up like a hedgehog
고슴도치 가시
hedgehog spines
Related Expressions
가시
gasi
spine / thorn
반려동물
ballyeo dongmul
companion animal / pet
이색동물
isaek dongmul
exotic pet
웅크리다
ungkeurida
to curl up / hunch
More Animals Words
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