Koi Glossary

Koi Glossary

Akame (a-kah-may): red eye

Aka (a-kah): red

Beni (ben-ee): red

Benigoi (ben-ee-goy): orange-red koi

Doitsu (dough-ee-tsue): German - scaleless, or rows of large scales

Gin-rin: diamond scales

Godan (go-dan) five-step pattern

Hi (he): red

Hikari (he-kah-ree): metallic

Ichi (ee-chee): number 1, best

Kage (kah-gay): shadow, undeveloped black

Kanoko (kah-no-koh): dappled red markings

Ki (kee): yellow

Kin (kin): gold

Kin rin (kin rin): gold diamond scales

Kiwa (key-wah): edge of pattern

Kuchibeni (koo-chee-ben-ee): red on the mouth like lipstick

Kuzu (koo-zoo): junk

Maruten (mah-roo-ten): round spot on the head (crown)

Matsuba (ma-tsue-bah): net-like pattern on scales

Menware (men-wah-ray): black stripe between eyes on Utsuri and Showa

Mesu (mess): female

Midori (me-doe-ree): green

Motoguro (moe-toe-goo-roe): black at base of pectoral fins

Moyo (moy-oh): pattern

Nidan (nee-dawn): two-step pattern

Nisai (nee-sigh): two-year-old Koi

Odome (oh-do-may): tail stop the white area between last color on the body and tail

Ohmoyo (oh-moy-oh): a large pattern

Osu (oh-sue): male

Sandan (san-dawn): three-step

Sansai (san-sigh): three-year-old Koi

Sashi (sash-ee): white scales overlapping red on the leading edge of pattern

Shimi (she-me): small black spot

Shiro (sheer-oh): white

Sumi (she-me): black

Tancho (ten-koh): redspot on head, no other red on the body

Tategoi (tah-tay-goy): a Koi with potential for further development

Tosai (toe-sigh): Koi of less than one year old

Tsubo sumi (sue-bow sue-me): Sanke black on white background, which may be bordered

by red

Wagoi (wa-go-ee): literally "Japanese Koi" a term used to differentiate from "Doitsugoi"

Yondan (you-dawn): four-step pattern on Kohaku

Yonsai (you-sigh): four-year-old Koi

42072 Silver Valley Rd. Newberry Springs, CA 92365 Tel: 760-254-3399 Fax: 760-254-3366