fjäril
/²fjɛːrɪl/common gender
The Swedish word for butterfly is fjäril. If unsure, use fjäril. Wiktionary also lists dagfjäril.
Meaning: insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fjäril | /²fjɛːrɪl/ | common gender |
| dagfjäril | common gender |
fjäril is the general noun used to refer to any butterfly.
Which one should you use?
While fjäril is the general term for a butterfly, dagfjäril specifically refers to butterflies that are active during the day, distinguishing them from moths (known as nattfjäril).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun fjäril changes depending on whether you are speaking about a specific butterfly or multiple butterflies. The definite form (the butterfly) is fjärilen, and the plural form (butterflies) is fjärilar. For the definite plural (the butterflies), use fjärilarna.
How do you pronounce it?
/²fjɛːrɪl/
Did you know?
- The original Proto-Germanic root for fjäril likely referred to a 'five-fold' structure, possibly relating to the wing patterns or anatomy of the insect.
Examples in context
- Den fjärilen har dött.That butterfly has died.This sentence is useful for describing the death of a specific fjäril.Tatoeba #10660969 by Pineapple, translation #7832911 by sharris123
- Du är en vacker fjäril.You are a beautiful butterfly.This sentence is a way to call someone a beautiful fjäril.Tatoeba #6082244 by User73201, translation #68974 by CM
- Jag fångade en vacker fjäril.I caught a beautiful butterfly.This sentence describes the action of catching a beautiful fjäril.Tatoeba #3836787 by herrsilen, translation #261436 by CK
- Jag såg en vacker fjäril i trädgården idag.I saw a beautiful butterfly in the garden today.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maja and Oscar are sitting in a meadow.
- MajaTitta, en blå fjäril!Look, a blue butterfly!
- OscarDen är verkligen vacker.It is truly beautiful.
- MajaKan den flyga långt?Can it fly far?
- OscarJa, fjärilar flyger ofta långt.Yes, butterflies often fly far.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “butterfly” translations and entries fjäril, dagfjäril, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dagfjäril, fjäril, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
