der Schmetterling
Translation
butterfly
Examples
Ein bunter Schmetterling fliegt vorbei.
A colourful butterfly flies by.
Die Raupe wird zum Schmetterling.
The caterpillar becomes a butterfly.
Grammar Patterns
Noun A butterfly flies. Ein Schmetterling fliegt.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Falter (moth, butterfly)
Etymology
The origin is uncertain, but one theory links it to the Slavic word 'smetana' (cream), from an old superstition that butterflies stole cream.
Memory Tips
Imagine a butterfly 'schmettering' (dashing) around. The '-ling' suffix often denotes a small being.