ninfas
/ninfas/from spelling rules
The English phrase nymphs is translated into Spanish as ninfas.
The word ninfas refers to nymphs. In Spanish folklore, particularly in northern Spain and the Basque Country, lamias is used to refer to water nymphs.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of ninfas is ninfa. Because ninfas is a feminine noun, the definite article used with it is las.
How do you pronounce it?
/ninfas/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word ninfa is also used in biology to describe the immature stage of certain insects, such as dragonflies, before they grow wings.
- In Spanish literature of the Golden Age, ninfas were not just mythological creatures but common metaphors for the high-born, untouchable women of the royal courts.
- In contemporary Spanish, calling a woman a 'ninfa' functions as a poetic compliment to suggest she possesses an ethereal, almost non-human beauty.
Examples in context
- Eco fue criado por las ninfas, y las musas le enseñaron a tocar la flauta de pan, la flauta, la lira, y el arpa, en realidad, para sobresalir en todo tipo de música.Echo was brought up by the Nymphs, and the Muses taught her to play upon the pipe, the flute, the lyre, and the harp, in fact, to excel in every kind of music.This sentence shows how the Muses and ninfas are related to the upbringing of Echo.Tatoeba #8699713 by Eremon, translation #6213153 by Hybrid
- Las ninfas eran consideradas criaturas mitológicas en la antigua Grecia.The nymphs were considered mythical creatures in ancient Greece.
- Las dríades cuidaban de los bosques y sus árboles sagrados.The nymphs took care of the forests and their sacred trees.
- Según las leyendas vascas, las lamias habitaban en los ríos y lagos.According to Basque legends, the lamias dwelled in rivers and lakes.
- Las mozas de agua son seres mitológicos muy populares en la tradición asturiana.Water nymphs are highly popular mythical beings in Asturian tradition.
- Las ninfas habitan en el bosque sagrado.The nymphs inhabit the sacred forest.
- Ese cuadro representa a las ninfas del agua.That painting represents the water nymphs.
Example conversation
María and Daniel are looking at a book of classical mythology.
- María¿Qué son estas criaturas en el dibujo?What are these creatures in the drawing?
- DanielSon las ninfas de la mitología griega.They are the nymphs from Greek mythology.
- MaríaParecen muy hermosas en esta ilustración.They look very beautiful in this illustration.
- DanielSí, las ninfas siempre son representadas así.Yes, nymphs are always depicted that way.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
