corgi

American  

[kawr-gee] / ˈkɔr gi /

noun

1. Welsh corgi.

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corgi British  

/ ˈkɔːɡɪ /

noun

1. Also called: Welsh corgi.  either of two long-bodied short-legged sturdy breeds of dog, the Cardigan and the Pembroke

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Etymology

Origin of corgi

1925–30; < Welsh, equivalent to cor dwarf + -gi, combining form of ci dog, cognate with Old Irish cú; see hound ¹

Explanation

A corgi is a small dog with short legs, a fox-like head, and a big-dog attitude. Corgis were originally bred in Wales to guard and herd cattle. There are two corgi breeds, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Both are very low to the ground, with stubby legs, a long body, and upright ears. You can tell the difference between the two mainly by their tails: Cardigans have long tails, but Pembrokes' tails are naturally short or bobbed. These dogs started out as fierce livestock protectors, eventually becoming popular pets around the world. The word corgi comes from the Welsh roots cor, "dwarf," and ci, "dog."

Example Sentences

A Tibetan mastiff called Viking, a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Hazel, and miniature schnauzer Spencer were among the six other pooches trying not to look too glum after missing out on the top prize.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2026

Even more strangely, he declares that the corgi, Hazel by name, isn’t really dead at all.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Named after a Welsh corgi that roamed Amazon’s first warehouse in 1996, Rufus is already making a significant impact.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

After disappearing during a storm at his Northern California home, a small corgi shepherd mix has been located two months later and more than 2,000 miles away in Illinois.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2025

The two dogs are Lupin, a Boston terrier, and BeBop, a tricolor Welsh corgi.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel