Corea
/kəˈriːə/noun
An obsolete English and European spelling of Korea, the East Asian country and historical region.
Did you know?“Corea” entered European usage through forms based on Goryeo, the Korean dynasty whose name was used internationally for the peninsula centuries before modern Korea existed.
Etymological Timeline
37 BCE–668 CE
Korean
Goguryeo
“The name of an ancient Korean kingdom; later forms of Korea ultimately trace back to this dynastic name.”
918–1392
Middle Korean
Goryeo
“The Korean dynasty that unified much of the peninsula and gave Korea its internationally recognized name.”
13th Century
Persian/Arabic
Koryo
“A West and Central Asian form referring to the Korean kingdom of Goryeo.”
13th–14th Century
Latin/Italian
Coria / Corea
“European forms used for the Korean kingdom and peninsula, derived through contact and geographic reports.”
16th–19th Century
European languages
Corea
“A common historical spelling for Korea in maps, travel accounts, and diplomatic writing.”
Modern English
English
Korea
“The standard modern English name for the Korean peninsula, especially the Republic of Korea or, in broader contexts, North and South Korea.”