Korean Dictionary
How to say "Seahorse" in Korean
“Seahorse” in Korean is 해마 (pronounced "haema").
해마
haema
Usage & Context
A unique fish with a horse-like head found in Korean waters. Seahorses are delicate creatures featured in Korean aquariums. They are symbols of ocean beauty.
Example Sentence
해마는 작고 귀여워요.
The seahorse is small and cute.
How to use 해마 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Seahorse” is 해마, romanized as haema.
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 해마.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'hae-ma' — 'hae' sounds like the English word 'hay,' and 'ma' rhymes with 'ma' in 'mama.' Two quick, even syllables with no strong stress.
More Example Sentences
sharing a fun experience from a weekend outing
아쿠아리움에서 해마를 처음 봤어요.
I saw a seahorse for the first time at the aquarium.
sharing a fun fact during a conversation
해마는 수컷이 새끼를 낳는대요.
I heard that with seahorses, the male gives birth.
describing something observed during diving or at an aquarium
해마가 해초 사이에 숨어 있었어요.
The seahorse was hiding among the seaweed.
Cultural Context
해마 uses the Sino-Korean roots 해 (sea) + 마 (horse) — a direct calque that makes the word easy to remember. Seahorses are popular attractions at Korean aquariums like 코엑스 아쿠아리움 in Seoul and 아쿠아플라넷 제주. Note: 해마 is also an unrelated anatomical term — the hippocampus in the brain — so context matters. Dried seahorse (건해마) occasionally appears in traditional hanbang medicine, though its use is far less common today.
Editorial note
We review entries like 해마 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
해마를 본 적이 있어요?
Have you ever seen a seahorse?
해마가 정말 귀여워요.
The seahorse is really cute.
해마는 멸종 위기 동물이에요.
Seahorses are an endangered species.
Related Expressions
바다
ba-da
sea / ocean
수족관
su-jok-gwan
aquarium
해초
hae-cho
seaweed / sea plants
해양 생물
hae-yang saeng-mul
marine life
More Animals Words
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