Korean Dictionary
How to say "Snail" in Korean
“Snail” in Korean is 달팽이 (pronounced "dalpeng-i").
달팽이
dalpeng-i
Usage & Context
A slow-moving mollusk with a spiral shell found in Korean gardens. Snails are featured in Korean children's stories and educational materials. They symbolize slowness and patience.
Example Sentence
달팽이가 천천히 움직여요.
The snail moves slowly.
How to use 달팽이 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Snail” is 달팽이, romanized as dalpeng-i.
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 달팽이.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, "dal," sounds like "dull" in "dullard." The second syllable, "peng," is like "pang" in "pangolin," but with a slightly softer 'p' and a 'ng' sound at the end. The final syllable, "i," sounds like "ee" in "see." The stress is fairly even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
Observing nature after rain
비 온 뒤에 달팽이들이 많이 보여요.
After it rains, I see a lot of snails.
Sharing a childhood hobby
어렸을 때 달팽이 껍질을 모으는 걸 좋아했어요.
When I was little, I liked collecting snail shells.
Discussing a beauty product
달팽이 크림이 피부에 좋다고 해서 써봤어요.
They say snail cream is good for skin, so I tried it.
Cultural Context
Snails are often associated with slowness and patience in Korean culture. They frequently appear in children's stories and educational materials as gentle, slow-moving creatures, and "달팽이처럼 느리다" (to be slow like a snail) is a common expression. Snail mucin (달팽이 점액) is also a popular ingredient in K-beauty products, known for its skin-regenerating properties.
Editorial note
We review entries like 달팽이 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
달팽이가 기어가요.
A snail is crawling.
달팽이 집이 예쁘네요.
The snail's shell is pretty.
달팽이처럼 느려요.
It's slow like a snail.
Related Expressions
민달팽이
min-dalpeng-i
slug (literally 'naked snail')
달팽이관
dalpeng-i-gwan
cochlea (inner ear part, shaped like a snail shell)
느리다
neurida
to be slow
껍질
kkeopjil
shell, skin, peel
More Animals Words
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