Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hyena" in Korean
“Hyena” in Korean is 하이에나 (pronounced "haiena").
하이에나
haiena
Usage & Context
A powerful carnivore known for its distinctive laugh. Hyenas are exotic animals featured in Korean zoos. They are often misunderstood animals in popular culture.
Example Sentence
하이에나가 울어요.
The hyena laughs.
How to use 하이에나 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hyena” is 하이에나, romanized as haiena.
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 하이에나.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '하' (ha), sounds like 'hah' in 'haha'. The second syllable, '이' (i), sounds like 'ee' in 'see'. The third syllable, '에' (e), sounds like 'eh' in 'bed'. The final syllable, '나' (na), sounds like 'nah' in 'banana'. The syllables are pronounced distinctly and flow together.
More Example Sentences
Learning about animal social structures and hunting methods.
하이에나는 무리 지어 사냥해요.
Hyenas hunt in packs.
Discussing characters in a popular animated movie.
라이온 킹에서 하이에나는 악당으로 나와요.
In The Lion King, hyenas appear as villains.
Talking about distinctive animal sounds.
하이에나의 웃음소리는 정말 특이해요.
A hyena's laugh is truly unique.
Cultural Context
하이에나 (haiena) is often portrayed negatively in Korean popular culture, largely influenced by its role as a scavenger and its distinctive 'laugh'. The Disney movie 'The Lion King' significantly shaped this perception for many Koreans, where hyenas are depicted as cunning, greedy, and villainous. The term can sometimes be used metaphorically in daily conversation to describe someone who takes advantage of others' weaknesses or exhibits overly aggressive, opportunistic behavior within a group.
Editorial note
We review entries like 하이에나 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
하이에나처럼 웃다
To laugh like a hyena (often implying a cackling, unpleasant laugh)
하이에나 무리
A pack of hyenas
하이에나의 습성
Hyena's habits/nature
Related Expressions
늑대
neukdae
Wolf
자칼
jakal
Jackal
스캐빈저
seukaebinjeo
Scavenger (loanword)
육식동물
yuksikdongmul
Carnivore
More Animals Words
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