Words / A1

MURM-ayd/ˈmɜːmeɪd/

A mermaid is a story character with a woman's upper body and a fish's tail. Countable: a mermaid, mermaids. A fish or a dolphin is a real sea animal; mermaids are only in books and films. One word: mermaid — not married (has a husband or wife).

Meaning

A story character with a woman's body and a fish's tail.

Examples

• “The book has a picture of a mermaid.”
• “The little girl drew a mermaid.”
• “There is a mermaid statue by the harbour.”

Good to know

a mermaid (story; fish tail). Contrast: fish, dolphin (real). Mix-up: married.

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