Dolphins belong to suborder Odontoceti, which is a whale suborder. So yes, Dolphins are whales. However, in common naming, people generally call things in the

Dolphins belong to suborder Odontoceti, which is a whale suborder. So yes, Dolphins are whales. However, in common naming, people generally call things in the Delphinidae family "Dolphins" and whales not in that family "Whales." Orcas are an exception to this pattern, they're in the family Delphinidae but are called whales.