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 neighbour broke down the door because he could not hear Abbott's corgi barking, which he found unusual, the court heard.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Abbott's corgi had been locked in the bathroom and was freed by firefighters, Boyce said.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 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

She snorted at the end like a corgi.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray