koi

American  

[koi] / kɔɪ /

noun

1. any of various colorful cultivated forms of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, apparently originating in Japan and other parts of eastern temperate Asia.

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koi British  

/ kɔɪ /

noun

1. any of various ornamental forms of the common carp

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Etymology

Origin of koi

1720–30; < Japanese, earlier kowi < kofi, Old Japanese kwofi < *kwopi carp

Explanation

Koi are a brightly colored version of carp, the large freshwater fish. The big orange-and-white striped fish swimming under the footbridge in a park or botanical garden are koi. Wild koi are found in lakes and rivers of East Asia, but most of these fish are domesticated, kept in ponds so people can admire their beautiful colors. The tradition of breeding koi to be bigger, fancier, and brighter started in 19th-century Japan. They can grow as long as three feet, and they come in dozens of colors. The Japanese koi, or "carp," is a homophone for a word meaning "love," and they've come to symbolize love and friendship.

Example Sentences

There are about 150 people using the adult services, including 25 new patients monthly, while about 60-80 children and young people are referred annually to the KOI service.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

According to Reuters news agency, the KOI is a Liberian-flagged container ship operated by UK-based Oceonix Services.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2024

It named the ship as the KOI, which it said was US-operated.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2024