motyl
/ˈmɔ.tɘl/masculine
The Polish word for butterfly is motyl.
motyl refers to the insect known as a butterfly.
Meaning: insect (noun)
Which one should you use?
motyl is the standard masculine form, while Motylek is used as an affectionate, diminutive version to refer to butterflies in a cute way.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of motyl is motyle. The form motyla is used in the genitive case, which occurs when the butterfly is the object of a preposition like 'of' or 'without' or when expressing possession or negation.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable. The IPA is /ˈmɔ.tɘl/.
Did you know?
- The root of motyl comes from the Proto-Slavic word motati, which means 'to spin', 'to whirl', or 'to flutter'.
- In Polish culture, the motyl is often associated with the soul or a fleeting moment of beauty in poetry and folklore.
- In Polish, the phrase 'butterflies in the stomach', used to describe nervousness or love, is translated as motyle w brzuchu.
Examples in context
- Och, tam jest motyl!Oh, there's a butterfly!This sentence shows how to point out the presence of a motyl.Tatoeba #10544217 by tokzyk, translation #1328 by brauliobezerra
- Byłem motylem w moim śnie.I was a butterfly in my dream.This sentence uses the instrumental form of motyl to describe being one in a dream.Tatoeba #12454029 by Wojtanex, translation #10059270 by maaster
- Czas życia motyla jest krótki.The life span of a butterfly is short.This sentence uses the genitive form motyla to describe the lifespan of the insect.Tatoeba #2120135 by liori, translation #1874077 by CK
- Dziś zobaczyłem pięknego motyla w ogrodzie.I saw a beautiful butterfly in the garden today.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Piotr and Agnieszka are walking in a garden.
- PiotrSpójrz, ten motyl ma piękne kolory.Look, this butterfly has beautiful colors.
- AgnieszkaTak, to jest naprawdę piękny motyl.Yes, it is a truly beautiful butterfly.
- PiotrCzy widzisz jeszcze jakiegoś motyla?Do you see any other butterfly?
- AgnieszkaNie, widzę tylko tego jednego.No, I only see this one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “butterfly” translations and entries motyl, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries motyl, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
