noun Uncommon

mermaid

MUR-mayd

Mermaid (noun) means a legendary sea creature with the upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish. Example: “The children's book was full of illustrations of mermaids and sea monsters.”

noun

A legendary sea creature with the upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish.

"The children's book was full of illustrations of mermaids and sea monsters."

How to use mermaid

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA mythical half-woman, half-fish creature that lives in the sea.

Common pairings

mermaid tail mermaid costume the little mermaid

Word forms

mermaids plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The children's book was full of illustrations of _____ and sea monsters.

Etymology

From Middle English mermayde, literally "maid of the sea" — from mere ("sea, lake") plus maid.

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for mermaid

aid maid laid paid said raid braid plaid Quaid afraid unsaid unpaid

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mermaid” mean?

The word “mermaid” means a legendary sea creature with the upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish. In plain terms, a mythical half-woman, half-fish creature that lives in the sea.

How do you pronounce “mermaid”?

“Mermaid” is pronounced MUR-mayd (/ˈmɝ.meɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “mermaid” in a sentence?

Here is “mermaid” used in a sentence: “The children's book was full of illustrations of mermaids and sea monsters.”

What part of speech is “mermaid”?

“Mermaid” is a noun.

Where does the word “mermaid” come from?

The word “mermaid” comes from Middle English. From Middle English mermayde, literally "maid of the sea" — from mere ("sea, lake") plus maid.

Is “mermaid” a common word?

“Mermaid” is an uncommon word in modern English.