Difference Between Fairy and Faerie
Fairy vs Faerie
Most of the people use fairy and faerie in the same sense and do not consider having many differences. For them, it is just the difference in spelling and nothing else. Both fairy and faerie are used for two different mythical spirits or figures.
“Fairy” is a word that has been derived from Latin word “fatum,” which can mean “fate.” Fairies are considered to be a group of young and pure spirits. These fairies are considered to elevate to higher levels through their impartial and loving service. Generally, a fairy refers to the young spirit which is in the mid-level of growth. They are considered to be lower to “sylph” and higher to “elf.”
“Faerie” is a word that has been derived from Gaelic “fear shidhe,” which means “man of the shee.”
Unlike the fairies, faeries are considered to be evil, horrid, and mischievous creatures. These mythical figures are portrayed as spirits that know easy ways of stealing. For example, faeries steal children and keep them as slaves or pets.
When compared to faeries, fairies are friendly and nice. They are also good-looking and more handsome then the faeries. Unlike the faeries, fairies can be a bit mischievous but are not dangerous. The faeries are evil, unfriendly, and cruel spirits. The faeries are a bit dangerous also.
When comparing the two spirits, fairies are very playful and kind. The fairies are also cute in comparison to faeries.
An example of a fairy is Tinkerbell and an example of a faerie is a banshee.
Summary:
1.“Fairy” is a word that has been derived from Latin word “fatum,” which can mean “fate.” “Faerie” is a word that has been derived from Gaelic “fear shidhe,” which means “’man of the shee.”
2.Fairies are considered to be a group of young and pure spirits. These fairies are considered to elevate to higher levels through their impartial and loving service.
3.When compared to faeries, fairies are friendly and nice. When comparing the two spirits, fairies are very playful and kind. The fairies are also cute in comparison to faeries.
4.Unlike the faeries, fairies can be a bit mischievous but are not dangerous.
5.Unlike the fairies, faeries are considered to be evil, horrid, and mischievous creatures. These mythical figures are portrayed as spirits that know easy ways of stealing.
6.The fairies are also good-looking and more handsome then the faeries.
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Thank you! In writing, I was confused about the difference between the two!
Nice post,
After I finished reading your post I made sure to take notes [laughs], I always knew there was a difference but I could never find anything informative, not even in books! So thank you.
This article is invalid and insulting on so many levels. Go to the book store. Look at a book on faeries if you want to know the difference.
Care to share your input? I want to be informed.
The author of this piece keeps insisting that they weren’t as beautiful as modern fairies, and this is, at best, only a partial truth.
Some faerie were also noted for their unearthly beauty, and seducing mortal lovers away from the world. Think of them as closer to minor Greek Gods, in their love lives, at least. But as with the Greek Gods, tragedy often followed those who won their favor. Their gifts were almost always a trick for the greedy, or, if you truly won a place in their hearts, a cautionary tale that would make a good story about curses with a curious upside, or vice versa. For example, imagine an artist who can only reveal the truth – is it a curse or a blessing, or both? Or imagine being invited to remain in their world forever – long after your innocence or your novelty fades…
And this was if they liked you.
If not, you might meet the wild hunt…
Perhaps it’s not quite Greek Gods they should be compared to, but rather, the vampires of Twilight, who belong to an older tradition of stories than anyone is willing to admit.
Though to be fair to those who hate Twilight, even when Shakespeare was making fun of faerie love stories by writing of faerie magic accidentally complicating their own lives, and their queen fell in love with a complete ass…
They were never so ridiculous before.
If they were to pursue a naïve, emotionally vulnerable young woman, they would be doing it on purpose, and it would be just one more reason to fear them. (And they’d be just as happy to prey on young men as naïve and emotionally vulnerable as Edward and Jacob.)
Thank You
Incredibly interesting
This is a subject that has intrigued me for decades and I have done a lot of research on it. I am not so foolish as to post “The Answer”…. The only answer is to take the time to research its history and form your own opinion. I believe that the article is not that far off base. Simplistic, perhaps, but,
“INVALID?” “INSULTING on so many levels”? Mavis, before sending someone to a bookstore to get a “Faerie book” Are you an authority on Faeries & Fairies? Do you know such an authority? Which specific books are you recommending? Because, if one goes to a well stocked bookstore or library, one can find books that back differing opinions and approaches to the subject. The Faerie/Fairy labels evolved over centuries across many cultures and, today, people will debate, argue, judge and pontificate over this from here to kingdom come. This is a complex history and the article that caused all this futile hoopla…. is, actually, a “fair” way to describe the difference(s) today, in a modern context. I cannot believe that I am even getting involved in this discussion. These feeds posting comments, this viral past time is an incredible waste of time. They are not moving our society in a positive direction. Often it has only led to more division because people are not willing to make an effort to understand & respect our differences.
“https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faerie
Synonyms for faerie
Synonyms
brownie, dwarf, elf, fairy, fay, gnome, goblin, gremlin, hobgoblin, kobold, leprechaun, pixie (also pixy), puck, sprite, troll ..Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of faerie in a Sentence…
in ancient folklore faeries were often portrayed as powerful beings who could wreak havoc on the lives of humans.
TIL fairies in traditional folklore are considered malevolent creatures to be avoided and warded off, rather than the benevolent creatures modern culture suggests.”
Yh.. Fairies and Faes are the same. The only difference is Fairies are a mistranslation and Faes are a type for instance Nymphs are a fae creature, Elf is one too so are pixies and such. When people say Fairies other think of pixies
who wrote this dribble? . . . just making up folklore for what? some traditions are ancient and some are cultural. . . from Japan, to North America, Europe, Britain, and the middle-east. . . the Fae are most certainly a phenomonon and like any legend, has roots in experiences and memorat. . . a folklorist never equates the word myth with something false, not real, or dismissive. . .
I couldn’t agree more!
Never ever have I read nonsens like this blog. No sources are mentioned, because the only source is the fantasy of the writer. Faerie/fairy/fae have all the same etymological root: Fata. There is absolutely no difference between them. Furthermore, shidhe should be sidhe, and can be found in Irish mythology, where the most of the sidhe are described as beautiful in appearence, an elf is faerie/fairie in Germanic mythology, a sylph is an elemental as described by Paracelsus… Need I go on??? This blog is misleading at its worst.
Beautifully said
hogwash, nothing here is accurate or correct
I agree entirely with
JPS, Nico and Kit.
What a load of Codswallop!
Can I get a source for this? Everything I’m researching doesn’t prove what you’re saying is true. Faerie is just the old English way of spelling fairy.
Etymology. The English fairy derives from the Early Modern English faerie, meaning “realm of the fays”. Faerie, in turn, derives from the Old French form faierie, a derivation from faie (from Vulgar Latin fata) with the abstract noun suffix -erie.