Key Facts
- Korean: 오리, Revised Romanization ori
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: neutral everyday word
- Duck meat: 오리고기
Duck in Korean: What Does 오리 Mean?
오리 means duck. A wild mallard is 청둥오리, and a duckling is described in the fairy-tale title 미운 오리 새끼.
How Do You Pronounce 오리?
오리 is [o-ri]. The ㄹ between the vowels is a quick tap of the tongue, close to the "dd" in American "ladder".
Example Sentences with 오리
오리가 헤엄쳐요.
Origa heeomchyeoyo.
The duck swims.
헤엄쳐요 means "swims".
호수에 오리가 있어요.
Hosue origa isseoyo.
There are ducks on the lake.
호수에 means "on the lake", and 있어요 means "there are".
저는 오리고기를 좋아해요.
Jeoneun origogireul joahaeyo.
I like duck meat.
오리고기 is written as one word, like other meat compounds.
Phrases with 오리
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 오리고기 | duck meat |
| 오리 알 | duck egg |
| 청둥오리 | mallard |
| 미운 오리 새끼 | the ugly duckling |
청둥오리 is the common wild duck seen on Korean rivers.
A Common Mistake with 오리
- Wrong: 오이 when you mean a duck.
- Correct: 오리
오이 is a cucumber. Make sure the tap ㄹ is audible in the second syllable.
오리 Compared with 거위 and 닭
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 오리 | duck | This page's word |
| 거위 | goose | Another farm bird |
| 닭 | chicken | Another farm bird |
Watching Ducks beside a Pond
Two friends stop beside a park pond. One spots ducks, and they discuss whether feeding them is allowed. They use polite everyday speech.
Jisu
저기 오리가 있어요.
Jeogi origa isseoyo.
There are ducks over there.
Alex
오리가 몇 마리예요?
Origa myeon marieyo?
How many ducks are there?
Jisu
세 마리예요. 먹이를 줘도 돼요?
Se marieyo. Meogireul jwodo dwaeyo?
There are three. May we feed them?
Alex
아니요. 여기서는 먹이를 주면 안 돼요.
Aniyo. Yeogiseoneun meogireul jumyeon an dwaeyo.
No. We’re not allowed to feed them here.
마리 is the counter for animals. 오리 세 마리 means three ducks: name the animal, add the native Korean number, then add 마리. 세 is the counting form used here, rather than 셋. The noun 오리 itself does not need a plural ending to refer to several birds.
먹이 is animal food or feed. 먹이를 주다 literally means “give feed” and is used for feeding an animal. The final line states the rule for this particular pond; it is not a claim about every park. A notice about feeding may use 먹이, so that word helps you understand the instruction.
Duck Phrases beyond the Bird’s Name
오리발 literally means “duck foot.” In a swimming context it means a flipper worn on your foot. The long shape and paddling action explain the connection, so a shop selling swimming equipment may offer 오리발 without selling anything made from a duck.
오리발을 내밀다 is also an idiom meaning to deny something you did or pretend you know nothing about it. Literally it pictures sticking out a duck’s foot. In a drama argument, the accusation concerns denying responsibility. It is informal and accusatory, so it is not a neutral way to ask someone for an explanation.
꽥꽥 is the Korean written sound of quacking. You may see it beside an illustrated duck in a children’s book. It represents the sound rather than naming the animal, just as “quack” differs from “duck” in English.
Where Will You See 오리?
A park information board can name a specific bird such as 청둥오리 rather than using only the broad word 오리. In a picture book, 오리 may be enough because the story is about a duck character rather than identifying its species.
On menus, 오리 points to duck as food. 훈제오리 means smoked duck, and 오리구이 means grilled or roasted duck. The preparation word tells you more than 오리고기 alone, which simply identifies the meat. The same noun therefore leads into two different sets of vocabulary: birds at a pond and ingredients at a restaurant.
Words for a Pond Conversation
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 새 | bird | Use the broader category if you cannot identify the species. |
| 연못 | pond | Name the smaller body of water where you saw the ducks. |
| 부리 | beak / bill | Describe the bird’s mouth part. |
| 날개 | wing | Describe what the duck spreads before flying. |
| 먹이 | feed | Understand a notice about feeding animals. |
The animal vocabulary lesson places 오리 among other birds and animals. A goose is 거위, so use that separate name when you recognize one. For a young duck, 새끼 오리 is a transparent description: 새끼 names an animal’s young. Keep that animal use separate from insulting uses of 새끼 directed at a person.
Quick Self-Test
- How do you count three ducks with the animal counter?
- On a swimming equipment label, what can 오리발 mean?
- Does 훈제오리 name a live bird species or a prepared food?
Show answers
- 오리 세 마리.
- Swimming flippers.
- A prepared food: smoked duck.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Say Duck in Korean?
Say 오리 (ori). It is the native everyday word for a duck, wild or farmed. Duck meat is 오리고기, a popular dish in Korea, often smoked or grilled. A mallard is 청둥오리, and the fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling" is 미운 오리 새끼.
What Is the Difference between 오리 and 오이?
오리 is a duck; 오이 is a cucumber. They differ only in the second syllable: 리 has a light tap ㄹ, while 이 has no consonant at all. Say the tap clearly when you mean the bird, or you may end up ordering a vegetable.
Is Duck Meat Common in Korea?
Yes. 오리고기 is a well-known dish, served smoked, grilled at the table or in soups, and many restaurants specialize in it. 저는 오리고기를 좋아해요 means "I like duck meat". It is often eaten in summer as a nourishing meal.
What Is 미운 오리 새끼?
미운 오리 새끼 is the Korean title of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling". 미운 means ugly or disliked, and 새끼 means the young of an animal. Like the English title, it is also used for someone who does not fit in at first.
Related Words and Next Steps
- See more animals vocabulary.
- Find more single words like duck in the Korean words A to Z index.
- A pond neighbor: frog.
- Review duck (오리) with the vocabulary flashcard decks.