Korean · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Whale" in Korean: 고래
고래gorae
Whale in Korean is 고래 (gorae). 고래 is the Korean noun for whale; use 마리 when counting animals rather than the general object counter 개.
Spotting an animal
고래가 저기에 있어요.goraega jeogie isseoyo.
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How to pronounce 고래
Say it
gorae
/koɾɛ/
고래 (gorae) has 2 Hangul syllables. 고래 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
"Whale" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 고래gorae | Whale Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 고래 사진gorae sajin | whale photograph A useful combination with 고래. | A useful combination with 고래. |
| 고래를goraereul | Whale (as an object) Use 를 when 고래 is the object of an action. | Use 를 when 고래 is the object of an action. |
How to use 고래 in real life
- 1Spotting an animal
고래가 저기에 있어요.
goraega jeogie isseoyo.
There is a whale over there.
고래가 marks 고래 as the subject.
- 2Talking about an outing
고래를 처음 봤어요.
goraereul cheoeum bwasseoyo.
I saw a whale for the first time.
고래를 uses 를 to mark an object.
- 3Asking about viewing
고래를 가까이에서 볼 수 있어요?
goraereul gakkaieseo bol su isseoyo?
Can we see the whale close up?
고래를 uses 를 to mark an object.
Mistakes English speakers make with 고래
Incorrect: 고래이 저기에 있어요.
Correct: 고래가 저기에 있어요.
When practicing whale, use the correct particle or copula after 고래; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 고래이에요.
Correct: 고래예요.
When practicing whale, when identifying something as 고래, use 고래예요. The vowel-final noun takes 예요 directly.
Good to know
고래 is the Korean noun for whale; use 마리 when counting animals rather than the general object counter 개. The combination 고래 사진 (gorae sajin) means whale photograph.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led nature and animals study exercise: two sentences with 고래
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
고래가 저기에 있어요.
goraega jeogie isseoyo.
There is a whale over there.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
고래를 처음 봤어요.
goraereul cheoeum bwasseoyo.
I saw a whale for the first time.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Whale" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Whale" in Korean
What does 고래 mean in Korean?
Whale in Korean is 고래 (gorae). 고래 is the Korean noun for whale; use 마리 when counting animals rather than the general object counter 개.
How do I use 고래 사진?
고래 사진 (gorae sajin) means whale photograph. 고래 is the Korean noun for whale; use 마리 when counting animals rather than the general object counter 개.
Which object particle goes after 고래?
The object form is 고래를 because 고래 ends in a vowel.
How is 고래 pronounced?
고래 (gorae) has 2 Hangul syllables. 고래 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
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