지렁이

Korean

Etymology

Nativisation of the Sino-Korean term 지룡 (地龍, jiryong, “earthworm”) +‎ 이 (-i, noun suffix).

First attested as Middle Korean 디로ᇰ이 (Yale: tilwong.i) in the Bunmun onyeok ihaebang (分門瘟疫易解方 / 분문온역이해방), 1542.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈt͡ɕi(ː)ɾʌ̹ŋi]
• Phonetic hangul: [지(ː)렁이]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	jireong'i
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	jileong'i
McCune–Reischauer?	chirŏngi
Yale Romanization?	cīlengi

Noun

지렁이 • (jireong'i)

1. earthworm