Key Facts
- Korean: 새, Revised Romanization sae
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: neutral everyday word
- Same spelling: 새 "new", used before nouns
Bird in Korean: What Does 새 Mean?
새 means bird in general. Specific birds have their own names, such as 닭 for chicken.
How Do You Pronounce 새?
새 is one syllable, [sae]. The vowel is like the "e" in "bed".
Example Sentences with 새
새가 날아요.
Saega narayo.
The bird flies.
새가 is the subject, and 날아요 means "flies".
나무에 새가 있어요.
Namue saega isseoyo.
There is a bird in the tree.
나무에 means "in the tree", and 있어요 means "there is".
아침에 새 소리를 들어요.
Achime sae sorireul deureoyo.
I hear birds in the morning.
새 소리 is the sound of birds, and 들어요 means "hear".
Bird Words with 새
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 새가 날다 | a bird flies |
| 새소리 | bird sound |
| 새장 | birdcage |
| 철새 | migratory bird |
새장 adds 장, a cage or cabinet. 철새 adds 철, season.
A Common Mistake with 새
- Wrong: reading 새 옷 as "bird clothes".
- Correct: 새 옷 means "new clothes".
When 새 sits directly before another noun with no particle, it is usually the determiner "new". When it takes a particle, as in 새가, it is the bird.
새 Compared with 새 "New" and 닭
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 새 | bird | Noun; takes particles |
| 새 | new | Determiner before a noun, e.g. 새 옷 |
| 닭 | chicken | A specific bird |
Spotting a Bird on a Park Walk
Two friends pause beneath a tree. One has noticed a bird but cannot identify it, so the question asks about its kind rather than its name as a pet.
Friend A
저 나무에 새가 있어요.
Jeo namue saega isseoyo.
There’s a bird in that tree.
Friend B
어디요?
Eodiyo?
Where?
Friend A
저기요. 무슨 새예요?
Jeogiyo. Museun saeyeyo?
Over there. What kind of bird is it?
Friend B
참새예요.
Chamsaeyeyo.
It’s a sparrow.
무슨 새예요 asks “What kind of bird is it?” Because 새 ends in a vowel, “is a bird” is 새예요. The answer 참새예요 identifies a sparrow. The same conversation can begin with 새가 있어요 when you only want to point out that a bird is present.
What Verbs Go Naturally with 새?
새가 날다 means a bird flies. 새가 울다 means a bird calls or sings. 울다 also means “to cry” for people, but with a bird it usually describes the sound the bird makes. Hearing 새가 울어요 in a nature scene therefore does not mean the speaker thinks the bird is sad.
새가 지저귀다 is more specific: a bird chirps or twitters. It suits small, repeated bird sounds. 새소리 is the broader noun for bird sounds, which can include calls that would not be described as a song in English. A recording labelled 새소리 may therefore contain several different kinds of calls.
새 한 마리 means one bird and 새 두 마리 means two birds. 마리 is the animal counter, and 하나 changes to 한 before it. 새 by itself does not force a choice between one bird and several. In 나무에 새가 있어요, the listener knows there is at least one bird, but a count needs extra information.
Where Will You See Bird Vocabulary?
In everyday conversation, 새 is the natural broad word when the species is unknown. At a zoo, a nature centre or in a science text, you may also see 조류, a more technical word for birds as a group. The two words can point to the same animals, but 조류 fits classification and 새 fits an ordinary sighting.
철새 appears in descriptions of seasonal migration and birdwatching locations. In political commentary, it can also be used critically for someone who changes sides for advantage. The literal image is a bird that moves with the season; the figurative use judges a person's loyalty. Keep that use for understanding commentary, since calling someone 철새 can sound insulting.
날개 means wing and 깃털 means feather. A picture of a wing does not always prove that the animal is a bird, so use 새 for the animal and the body-part words for what you are describing. Bird guides often pair a species name with a description of its feathers or wings to help readers identify it.
Bird Names for Your Next Walk
| Korean | Meaning | Recognition note |
|---|---|---|
| 참새 | sparrow | A specific bird name ending in 새. |
| 비둘기 | pigeon or dove | This bird name does not contain 새. |
| 까치 | magpie | A species name you may meet in stories and nature descriptions. |
| 오리 | duck | Useful for birds seen on ponds and rivers. |
The animal vocabulary lesson puts these names alongside other animals. Use the species name when you recognise it; 새 remains useful when you do not.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 새가 울어요 necessarily mean a bird is sad?
- How do you count two birds with 마리?
- In political commentary, can 철새 describe a person?
Show answers
- No. It usually means the bird is calling or singing.
- 새 두 마리.
- Yes. It can criticise someone for changing sides for advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Say Bird in Korean?
Say 새 (sae). It is the native everyday word for any bird, from a sparrow to an eagle. Specific birds have their own names, such as 닭 for chicken, but 새 is the word for birds in general and for compounds like 새장, birdcage.
How Can 새 Mean Both Bird and New?
They are two different words that happen to share a spelling. 새 "bird" is a noun and can take particles, as in 새가 날아요. 새 "new" is a determiner that only appears directly before a noun, as in 새 옷, new clothes. Position in the sentence tells them apart.
What Is a Migratory Bird in Korean?
A migratory bird is 철새. 철 means season, so 철새 is literally a "season bird" that arrives and leaves with the seasons. Korea's wetlands and rivers are well-known stopovers for migratory birds such as ducks and cranes, so the word often appears in news and nature guides.
How Do You Say Birdsong in Korean?
Say 새소리, "bird sound", as a compound noun. The example 아침에 새 소리를 들어요 uses the spaced phrase 새 소리, "the sound of birds". Korean uses 소리, sound, for bird calls generally; the word does not imply a melody.
Related Words and Next Steps
- Explore more animal vocabulary.
- Find more single words like bird in the Korean words A to Z index.
- Related page: cat in Korean.
- Review bird (새) with the vocabulary flashcard decks.