Korean Dictionary
How to say "Monkey" in Korean
“Monkey” in Korean is 원숭이 (pronounced "wonsungi").
원숭이
wonsungi
Usage & Context
An intelligent primate known for its playful behavior and social nature. Monkeys are featured in Korean folklore and traditional stories. They are popular attractions in Korean zoos.
Example Sentence
원숭이가 나무에서 뛰어다녀요.
The monkey jumps in the tree.
How to use 원숭이 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Monkey” is 원숭이, romanized as wonsungi.
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 원숭이.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '원' (won), sounds like 'wahn' in 'want.' '숭' (sung) sounds like 'soong' in 'soon.' The last syllable, '이' (i), sounds like 'ee' in 'see.' Put it together as 'wahn-soong-ee.'
More Example Sentences
Stating a common fact about monkeys.
원숭이가 바나나를 좋아해요.
Monkeys like bananas.
Teasing a playful friend or child.
장난꾸러기 원숭이 같아요.
You're like a mischievous monkey.
Referencing a famous literary character.
서유기에는 손오공이라는 원숭이가 나와요.
Journey to the West features a monkey named Son Oh-gong.
Cultural Context
Monkeys (원숭이) are not native to mainland Korea but are well-known through zoos, media, and especially the Chinese classic 'Journey to the West' (서유기, Seoyugi), which is very popular in Korea and features the mischievous Monkey King, Son Oh-gong (손오공). They are often associated with playfulness, cleverness, and sometimes trickery. In the Korean zodiac, the Year of the Monkey (원숭이띠) is considered a year for intelligent and active individuals.
Editorial note
We review entries like 원숭이 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
원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다
Even monkeys fall from trees (proverb: even experts make mistakes)
원숭이 흉내를 내다
to imitate a monkey
원숭이 재주
monkey's tricks/skills (often implying clever but perhaps superficial skills)
Related Expressions
원숭이 띠
wonsungi tti
Year of the Monkey (zodiac sign)
원숭이 엉덩이
wonsungi eongdeongi
monkey's butt (often used in a children's song)
잔나비
jannabi
old/literary term for monkey
침팬지
chimpaenji
chimpanzee (a type of ape, related concept)
More Animals Words
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