기러기

기러기 (greylag goose)

Korean

Alternative forms

• 기례기 (giryegi) (Koryo-mar)

Etymology

First attested in the Hunminjeong'eum haerye (訓民正音解例 / 훈민정음해례), 1446, as Middle Korean 그력 (Yale: kùlyèk). Subsequently passed through the forms 그려기 (geuryeogi) and 기려기 (giryeogi). Equivalent to 기럭 (gireok) +‎ 이 (-i, noun suffix), the unsuffixed form surviving in the vocative.

Possibly related to Japanese 雁 (kari, “goose”) and Mongolian галуу (galuu, “goose”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [kiɾʌ̹ɡi]
• Phonetic hangul: [기러기]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gireogi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gileogi
McCune–Reischauer?	kirŏgi
Yale Romanization?	kileki

South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 기러기의 / 기러기에 / 기러기까지

Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch on the second syllable, and lowers the pitch of subsequent suffixes.

Noun

기러기 • (gireogi)

1. wild goose that flies in a V-shaped flock or wedge

Derived terms

• 까치기러기 (kkachigireogi, “magpie-goose”)

See also

• 거위 (geowi, “domesticated goose that would not fly”)
• 고니 (goni, “swan that also flies in a wedge”)

References

• National Institute of the Korean Language (Naver.com mirror) (2007 January 7 (last accessed)) “기러기”, in 표준국어대사전‎
• Seo Jeong-beom (서정범) (2000) “기러기”, in 國(국)語(어)語(어)源(원)辭(사)典(전), Seoul: Bogosa Books, page 98