Key Facts
- Korean: 원숭이, Revised Romanization wonsungi
- Part of speech: noun
- Register: neutral everyday word
- Spelling point: 숭 ends in ㅇ
Monkey in Korean: What Does 원숭이 Mean?
원숭이 means monkey. In casual speech it is also used loosely for apes, but the specific names are more precise.
How Do You Pronounce 원숭이?
원숭이 is [won-sung-i]. The ng of 숭 is held, then the final 이 follows as a separate "ee".
Example Sentences with 원숭이
원숭이가 바나나를 먹어요.
Wonsungiga bananareul meogeoyo.
The monkey eats a banana.
바나나를 먹어요 means "eats a banana".
동물원에서 원숭이를 봐요.
Dongmurwoneseo wonsungireul bwayo.
I see monkeys at the zoo.
동물원에서 means "at the zoo", and 봐요 means "see".
원숭이는 나무에 올라가요.
Wonsungineun namue ollagayo.
Monkeys climb trees.
나무에 올라가요 means "climbs up trees".
Phrases with 원숭이
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 원숭이 흉내 | imitating a monkey |
| 아기 원숭이 | baby monkey |
흉내 means imitation, so 원숭이 흉내 is acting like a monkey, a classic children's game.
A Common Mistake with 원숭이
- Wrong: 원수이
- Correct: 원숭이
The second syllable is 숭, ending in ㅇ "ng". Dropping that consonant gives a misspelling.
원숭이 Compared with 침팬지 and 고릴라
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 원숭이 | monkey | General word |
| 침팬지 | chimpanzee | A specific ape |
| 고릴라 | gorilla | A specific ape |
Finding the Monkeys at the Zoo
Two friends are looking into an enclosure. One spots movement in a tree and points it out.
Hana
원숭이가 어디 있어요?
Wonsungiga eodi isseoyo?
Where is the monkey?
Min
저기 나무 위에 있어요.
Jeogi namu wie isseoyo.
It’s over there, up in the tree.
Hana
아기 원숭이도 있네요.
Agi wonsungido inneyo.
There’s a baby monkey too.
Min
네, 정말 작아요.
Ne, jeongmal jagayo.
Yes, it’s really small.
나무 위에 gives the position, “up in/on the tree”. 아기 comes before the animal name to identify a baby. The particle 도 adds “also”, and 있네요 shows that Hana has just noticed something. The scene makes the number of animals clear without a plural ending.
What Does the Monkey Proverb Mean?
원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 literally means “Even a monkey falls from a tree”. Its everyday lesson is that even a skilled person can make a mistake. The monkey’s climbing ability supplies the image: being good at something does not make errors impossible.
KBS’s Korean-language explanation of 원숭이 introduces the proverb with this meaning. You might hear it after an experienced player misses an easy shot. The line comments on the unexpected error rather than describing an actual animal falling.
The 도 after 원숭이 means “even” in this proverb. In the zoo dialogue, 도 in 아기 원숭이도 simply adds “a baby monkey too”. The surrounding idea decides which English translation fits. A small particle can carry a different emphasis without changing the animal’s name.
Where Will You Meet 원숭이 outside a Zoo?
Children’s books use 원숭이 as an animal character, often with climbing or imitation as part of the story. 원숭이 흉내 means imitating a monkey, and 원숭이 흉내를 내다 means acting out that imitation. 흉내를 내다 is the useful verb combination; the noun before it tells you what is being copied.
아기 원숭이 is a baby monkey, not a separate species. A zoo sign may give a more specific animal name, while a family talking about the enclosure may simply say 원숭이. For chimpanzees and gorillas, use 침팬지 and 고릴라 when you know which animal you mean.
Calling a person 원숭이 compares them to an animal. Even if a television character uses it playfully, it can be insulting, especially about appearance. The neutral zoo word does not automatically make a friendly nickname. Use the person’s name rather than copying a joke whose relationship you do not know.
One Monkey, Several Monkeys, or Monkeys in General?
원숭이 alone does not force an English singular or plural. The existing example 원숭이는 나무에 올라가요 can describe monkeys generally. A pointing sentence at an enclosure may instead refer to one monkey. Korean can leave the number unstated when the scene makes it obvious.
To count them, use 마리, the animal counter: 한 마리 is one animal and 두 마리 is two. 원숭이 두 마리 means “two monkeys”. The counter takes native Korean numbers, and it follows the animal noun. A plural ending is unnecessary when the number is already given.
Words for the Same Zoo Visit
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 동물원 | zoo | Names the place you are visiting. |
| 나무 | tree | Describes where the animal is climbing. |
| 꼬리 | tail | Names a visible body part. |
| 마리 | animal counter | Counts monkeys and other animals. |
The animals vocabulary lesson puts 원숭이 beside other animal names. Combine the name with a location or counter to say more than simply “monkey”.
Quick Self-Test
- What lesson does 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 express?
- What does 원숭이 두 마리 mean?
- Which sound must you keep at the end of 숭?
Show answers
- Even skilled people make mistakes.
- Two monkeys.
- The final ㅇ, the ng sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Say Monkey in Korean?
Say 원숭이 (wonsungi). It is the everyday word for a monkey and, in casual speech, often for apes in general. Specific apes have their own loanword names, such as 침팬지 for chimpanzee and 고릴라 for gorilla, which are used when precision matters.
How Does 원숭이 Differ from 침팬지 and 고릴라?
원숭이 is the general word for monkey. 침팬지 means chimpanzee and 고릴라 means gorilla. Those animals have their own names, so use the specific word when the distinction matters. Read the comparison table alongside the example sentences to connect each name with its meaning.
Is a Chimpanzee a 원숭이?
Strictly, no. A chimpanzee is an ape, and Korean calls it 침팬지; a gorilla is 고릴라. In casual conversation and children's books, though, 원숭이 is often used loosely for any monkey-like animal. Use the specific name when it matters.
How Do You Spell 원숭이?
원숭이 has three syllables: 원, 숭 and 이. The middle syllable ends in ㅇ, the "ng" sound, and the final 이 starts with a silent ㅇ. Learners who hear [won-sung-i] quickly sometimes drop the ng and write 원수이, which is wrong.
Related Words and Next Steps
- See more animals vocabulary.
- Find more single words like monkey in the Korean words A to Z index.
- Review monkey (원숭이) with the vocabulary flashcard decks.