mariposa
/maɾiˈposa/feminine
The Spanish word for butterfly is mariposa.
mariposa is a noun used to refer to the insect known as a butterfly.
Meaning: insect (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
mariposa is a feminine noun. Because mariposa is a feminine noun, you use the feminine definite article la (la mariposa) instead of the masculine el and the feminine indefinite article una (una mariposa) instead of the masculine uno. The plural form of mariposa is mariposas.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɾiˈposa/
Did you know?
- One theory suggests mariposa comes from the phrase María pósate, which means 'Mary, alight!' This reflects an old belief that butterflies were the souls of the dead and associated with the Virgin Mary.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a mariposa is a symbol of transformation and rebirth, often appearing in art to represent the soul's journey.
- In certain regions, mariposa can be used colloquially to refer to a person who is flighty or unstable in their decisions.
Examples in context
- ¡Ah, allí hay una mariposa!Oh, there's a butterfly!This sentence shows how to point out the presence of a mariposa.Tatoeba #2534 by Shishir, translation #1328 by brauliobezerra
- La mariposa estaba volando.The butterfly was flying.This sentence describes the action of a mariposa.Tatoeba #10803555 by saverius, translation #10803850 by Luornu
- Atrapé una hermosa mariposa.I caught a beautiful butterfly.This sentence demonstrates using an adjective with mariposa.Tatoeba #1323394 by marcelostockle, translation #261436 by CK
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are walking in a garden.
- ElenaMira esa mariposa azul.Look at that blue butterfly.
- MateoEs muy bonita y pequeña.It is very pretty and small.
- ElenaCreo que la mariposa quiere aterrizar aquí.I think the butterfly wants to land here.
- MateoNo te muevas para no asustarla.Don't move so you don't scare it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “butterfly” translations and entries mariposa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mariposa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
