Fairy Dictionary of

Names and Terms

Compiled by Professor Fire Rainbowfrost - PTSE (Professor of Troll Sniffing & Extermination)

While most faeries speak the language of humans, they really appreciate it when you take the time to learn how to talk to them in their native tongue, and that appreciation often takes the form of gifts and exciting adventures!

Learning the language of faeries is no simple task, for it is musical and nuanced. Just the sound of it can lull humans to sleep. Many a human has agreed to an ill bargain just because the words sounded so sweet.

So practice these phrases only when you are alone!

Young faeries often speak so quickly and in such a high pitch that it sounds more like the buzzing of a bee than language!

Common Faerie Phrases

What’s your name?: Ro’wa wylo tira? (ROW-wa WE-el-oh TEA-rah)

My name is: Syl tira wa (SIL TEA-rah WA)

Where is the toilet?: Tam wa iya vastooten? (TAM WA EE-yah vass-TOOT-en)Be careful! This phrase is very close to the phrase for “W here isthe smelly slug bath?”

I have a pimple on my toe: Ti keva sai pebin mir syl iggi (TEA KE-va sigh PAY-bin mear sil IGG-ee)

Good morning: Ves sunir (VESS SUN-ear)

Good afternoon: Ves arba (VESS ARE-ba)

Good night: Ves starren (VESS STAR-ren)

Farewell: Bir’kir (BEER keer) In the language of faeries, an apostrophe means the faerie should buzz its wings, making a loud clicking sound. You can simulate this by clicking your tongue!

I’m sorry: Tir lin (TEAR lin)

You’re welcome: Wyl’rin asha (WE-el rin ASH-ah)

Please: Faena (FEY-nah)

Thank you: Aura wyl (OR-ah WE-el)

Yes: Ki (KEY)

No: Bas (BAH-sss)

I don’t understand: Ti ja vapir (TEA JAW VAP-ear)

I hate/love it: Ti jaen/kala ni (TEA JAY-en/KA-la NI)

Common Fairy Names and Terminology

-A-

Abatwa

Said to be the tiniest creatures of human form in existence, these little people coexist peacefully with the ants in the anthills of Southern Africa and live on their foragings from the roots of grasses and other plants. They are very shy and so are elusive, however tend to reveal themselves to very young children, wizards, and pregnant women.

Aes Sidhe

'The people of the hills', collective name for the old Irish gods who dwell in hills.

Aeval

Among the Celts of Ireland, Aeval was the Fairy Queen of Munster. She held a midnight court to determine if husbands were satisfying their wives' sexual needs, or not, as the women charged.

Aine

Irish goddess of love and fertility. Daughter of Eogabail, who was in turn the foster-son of Manannan mac Lir. Later regarded as a fairy queen in County Limerick.

Alii Menehune

Chief of the Little People. The aboriginal little people of long, long ago were called Menehune; Alii means highest: thus Alii Menehune.

Angiaks

Children of the living dead of Eskimo lore. In hard times, unwanted babies were taken out into the snow by tribal elders to die of exposure. Unless the tribe would move to a new hunting ground, they would often find themselves haunted by this small, miserable ghost.

Anjanas

Las Anjanas are typical faeries of Cantabria, there are small and nice females who sometimes appear to people like part human and part animal (usually, it's bird or fish, but it's not always fifty-fifty). Good-willing and peaceful, they can be found in woods, near small streams and that sort of quiet places.

Ankou

The faerie version of the grim reaper. Sometimes he's portrayed as a benevolent, comforting figure. In parts of France there's a skeleton-ghost called Ankou. He travels by night, riding a creaking cart (or small coach) drawn by four black horses in which he comes to collect the souls of the recently departed. Two other skeletons walk alongside Ankou's cart, tossing the souls into the wagon. His skull spins like a top on his bony shoulders so he can see in all directions.

Anthropophagi

In English lore, headless cannibals. They have a little brain located near their reproductive organs, their eyes are in his their shoulders and their mouths are in the centre of their chests.

Apotamkin

In north-eastern legends of Passamaquoddy, this is a hairy "bogey-man" figure with long fangs. This myth is used to instil fear into children from venturing into areas alone and without parental guidance.

Arkan Sonney

Fairy pigs on the Isle of Man, they're also known as "Lucky Piggy". Fairy pigs are supposed to bring good luck if one is to capture it.

Asparas

Usually female, also known as sky-dancers. They bless humans at important stages in their lives, and are often seen at weddings. They live in fig trees and sometimes appear to scholars or scientists, seduce and exhaust them, making sure they don't venture into areas that the spirit world deems unfit.

Asrai

Small, fragile, female beings who turn to a puddle of water when they are captured or exposed to sunlight.

Aughisky

(Pronounced "Agh-iski"). They are the Irish version of the Each-Uisge.

Awd Goggie

A type of Bogie. He haunts forests and orchards, and kidnaps children. Wise children will stay away from orchards when unsupervised, lest Awd Goggie gets them.

-B-

Baba Yaga

In old Hungarian folklore, Baba ("old woman") was originally a good fairy but was later degraded to a witch. In a number of East European myths, a Baba Yaga (there are more than one) is a cannibalistic witch who lives in a hut on the edge of the forest. Baba Yaga is often represented as a little, ugly, old woman with a huge and distorted nose and long teeth. She is also called Jezi-Baba or Baba Yaga Kostianaya Noga ("bone-legs"), referring to the fact that she is rather skinny. She is regarded as the devil's own grandmother.

Banshee

Common name for the Irish Bean Sidhe. In Scotland the banshee is known as Caoineag (wailing woman) and, although seldom seen, she is often heard in the hills and glens, by lakes or running water. The Welsh counterpart is the Gwrach y Rhibyn.

Barbegazi

Small gnomes who live in the mountainous regions of France and Switzerland. They look just like other gnomes except for large feet with which they can easily walk and ski over snow and use for digging tunnels. Their hair is frozen and resembles icicles. Should the need arise, a Barbegazi can cover himself with snow in seconds, and dig himself out no matter how deep he may be buried. They live in a network of caves and tunnels at the summits of high peaks, where they also aestivate during the summer. They are rarely seen, and then only in the winter months, when the temperature drops below zero. They never venture below the tree-line.

Barguest

A kind of Bogie. It has horns, dangerous teeth and claws, and fiery eyes. It can take many forms, but usually is a shaggy black dog. Upon the death of a prominent figure, it rounds up all the dogs in the community and leads them on a procession through the streets, howling.

Bauchan

( also Bogan). A type of Hobgoblin. Like most faeries, they are fond of tricks - sometimes they are dangerous, and sometimes helpful.

The Bean-Nighe

(Pronounced "ben-neeyah"). The Washer at the Fords, is the Scottish version of the Irish Bean Sidhe (Banshee). She wanders near deserted streams where she washes the blood from the grave-clothes of those who are about to die. It is said that Bean Nighe are the spirits of women who died giving birth and are doomed to do this work until the day their

lives would have normally ended. A Bean Nighe is thought to have one nostril, one big protruding tooth, webbed feet and long hanging breasts. A mortal who is bold enough to sneak up to her while she is washing and suck her breast can claim to be her foster-child. The mortal can then gain a wish from her.

Bendith y Mamau

(Pronounced "ben-dith uh momay"). Carmarthenshire (Wales) name for fairies, translates to "Mother's Blessing". This saying became a prayer spoken to ward-off harm. A rather unpleasant clan of Welsh fairies. They are ugly creatures, and sometimes regarded as the result of interbreeding between goblins and fairies. They steal children and substitute them for their own ugly ones, called Crimbils. Through the intervention of a witch, the parents can regain the stolen child, who will remember nothing of its time with the Bendith Y Mamau, except for a vague recollection of sweet music.

Biersal

A kobold from German folklore who lives down in the cellar. He will clean all the jugs and bottles as long as he receives his own jug of beer daily for his trouble.

Black Annis

In England, Black Annis is a blue-faced hag who lives in a cave in the Dane Hills, Leicestershire. The cave, called "Black Annis' Bower Close" was dug out of the rock with her own nails. Situated in front of it is a great oak in which she hides to leap out and catch and devour stray children and lambs. Every year on Easter Monday, it was customary to hold a drag hunt from her cave to the Mayor's house. The bait was a dead cat drenched in aniseed.

Blue Fairy

In Carlo Collodi's tale Pinocchio the wooden boy receives the gift of real life from the Blue Fairy. The story is echoed in Steven Spielberg's 2001 film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, in which an android longs to become a real boy.

Blue Men of the Minch

They dwell in the strait between Long Island and the Shiant Islands. They are responsible for sudden thunderstorms and shipwrecks, but their ship-sinking attempts may be thwarted if you are an adept rhymer. Some think they may be fallen angels.

Bodach

(Also Bugbear or Bug-A-Boo). They slide down chimneys to kidnap naughty children.

Boggart

Household spirits from the north of England, and similar to brownies and bogies, although their nature is much more malicious and less helpful. The dark and hairy Boggarts are dressed in tattered clothes, with meddling hands and clumsy feet. The presence of a Boggart is betrayed by the unusual number of small accidents and strange noises after dark. They tip over milk bottles, frighten cats, pinch little children, blow out candles, and cause many other mishaps. No one has ever found a way to appease them, and often there is no alternative but to quickly and stealthy move to another home. In Manx folklore, it is called a Buggane.

Bogles

They are a form of Goblin and are generally nasty in temperament. However, they prefer to inflict their evil deeds upon liars and murderers.

Bokwus

A wild spirit of the Kwakiutl that is believed to roam in dense forests and woodlands. It draws to his home the spirits of those who have drowned. A fearsome spirit in the great north-western American spruce forests.

Brown Man of the Muirs

The Protector of wild animals.

The Brownie

Good-natured, invisible brown elves or household goblins who live in farmhouses and other country dwellings in Scotland. While people are asleep, they perform their labours for them. They are known to be protective creatures and they become attached to a certain place of family. Even if the family should move to another continent, the brownies will accompany them in their migration. If offered payment for their services or if they are treated badly, they disappear and are never seen again. The little hairy brownies, with their flat faces and pinhole nostrils, are not very attractive, but their happy smiles and extrovert characters makes up for that. The innocent nature of children allows them to see the brownies, but disbelieving adults will never get a glimpse of them. This however does not prevent the brownies from helping adults in countless minor ways.

Bucca

A goblin of the wind, once supposed by Cornish people to foretell shipwrecks. It is also a sprite fabled to live in the tin mines.

Buggane

An evil creature from the Isle of Man, with a great head and body and with long teeth and nails. It is a variant of the Boggart.

Bugul-Noz

He's a forest dweller, a shepherd. He's very unattractive and he knows it, but he yearns for human companionship.

The Bwca

They are the Welsh version of the Brownie. It is a helpful creature who, in exchange for a bowl of cream, is willing to perform small labours such as the churning of butter. If he is treated badly, the Bwca will pound the walls, throw small objects, pinch people in their sleep, destroy clothes and reveal secrets. He despises teetotallers and people with long noses.

-C-Cannered-Noz

Breton version of the Bean-Sidhe.

Cliodhna

The Irish goddess of beauty. She later became a fairy queen in the area of Carraig Cliodhna in County Cork.

Cluricaun

(Pronounced (kloor-a-kawn). After his day's labours the Leprechaun enjoys a night's revelry and then becomes known as the Cluricaun. He raids wine cellars and tortures sheep and dogs by riding them like horses in the moonlight.

Coblynau

(Also Koblernigh). They are Welsh mine faeries, similar to Knockers. They are considered good omens since the location of their mining usually precedes the discovery of ore there.

Corrigan

In the folklore of Brittany, a female fairy. She is said to have been one of the ancient Druidesses, and therefore malicious towards Christian priests. Corrigan is fond of pretty human children, and is usually blamed for all changeling

substitutions.

Crion

Breton Gnomes who are reputed to inhabited the ruins at Tresmalouen. They appear to be related to the Gorics.

Cururipur

A powerful South American spirit who owned the jungle and tortures tortoise hunters since the tortoises are his friends.

-D-Dagda

King of the fairy race of the Tuatha de Danann in Irish mythology. He was celebrated not only for his prowess with a battle club, magic harp and cauldron, but was also known for his greed and cruelty.

Daoine Maite

Literally, the good people. They are the fairies of contemporary Irish folklore.

Daoine Sidhe

The divine folk of Old Irish folklore. After the Tuatha Dé Danann were defeated by the Milesians (Gaels), those members who decided to stay in Ireland formed the Daoine Sidhe. They live in hollow mounds, hence the name Sidhe which literally means "people of the (fairy) mounds". They are fond of battles, hurling (a kind of field hockey) and are skilled chess players. Many a mortal challenged Finvarra to a game and lost all his possessions, for the king has never been beaten. These fairies are small and this is responsible for the name of Daoine Beaga, "little folk". They may ride out to hunt, or stir up an eddy of dust, or engage in battles, or steal children, or prevent butter from forming in the churn.

Dana O'Shee

In Irish folklore, they are small, graceful creatures. The Dana O'Shee live in a realm of eternal beauty and remain eternally young as nobles from the age of chivalry with their own king and queen and royal household. They wear beautiful clothes enriched with precious jewels. They love music, dancing and hunting and can often be seen riding in a procession, led by the king and queen. But even these lovely creatures can be treacherous, and some people say they come from the realm of the dead. A person enchanted by their beauty or music is forever lost.

Disir

These are spirits who attach themselves to a particular place, usually man made, like houses. Especially old houses. They are generally feminine ancestral spirits.

Duergar

These are a malicious form of Dwarf from Northern England. They revel in tricking people into dying.

Dwarfs

In myths and folklore, dwarfs are small humanoids, about half the size of a man, who live in caves or in holes under the ground (and sometimes in hollow trees). They can be hostile towards to man, but can also perform small labours for them. In fairy tales (such as 'Snowhite and the Seven Dwarfs') they are usually portrayed as short, stocky creatures with long beards. They can be found working in mines, delving minerals and metals. Dwarves are exceptionally skilful with their hands and make the most beautiful (and often magical) objects, which surpasses man-made objects by far.

Dybbuk

A Jewish demonic spirit capable of possessing humans.

-E-

Each-Uisge

(Pronounced "Ech-ooshkya"). In Ireland they are called the Aughisky, and are analogous with the Kelpie. After he carried the unsuspecting victim into the water, it would tear him apart and devour the entire body except for the liver. As long as the Each-Uisge is ridden in the interior, he is rather harmless. But the merest glimpse or smell of water would mean the end of the rider. The creature assumes human shape, woos maidens, and can be recognized only by the water weeds in his hair.

Ekimmu

One of the Uttuku. Evil or vengeful spirits of the ancient Assyrians, the Ekimmu appeared wailing and crying outside a home to signal an impending death, much like a Banshee.

Ellyllon

The name given to the Welsh elves. They are tiny, diaphanous fairies whose food is

toadstools and fairy butter, a fungoid substance found in the roots of old trees and in limestone crevices. Their queen is Mab. They are smaller than the Tylwyth Teg.

El Trasgu

Trasgus are typical from Asturian folklore, but in fact they are known in all the country (Spain) under the less regional appellative of "trasgos". In others parts of Europe, they are known as "lutin", "follet", "kobold" or "puck". Trasgos are horned and have a tail; they also walk with a limp, but this doesn't mean they are not agile. In fact, they really are! As they are of the family of imps ("duendes" in Spanish, or "lutins" in French), they are small (70 to 90 cm tall), wear a red, pointed hood or hat, and are happy, noisy lads who like joking. Trasgos live in old houses, and are specially fond on those with a big garret or lumber room. They are not sentimentally attached to the building, but to the family that inhabits there, and the trasgo will follow the family if it moves to another place. Trasgos love any kind of domestic work, but they must be repaid with food and warmth, otherwise they can become very angry. They will then awake sleeping people, displace any object in the house or break dishes. Most of all, they are very greedy, and will steal any sweet that can be found in the house. That is why some people want to get rid of them. The only way is to shame the trasgu, who believes himself very clever.

Elves

In Scandinavian mythology the fairy people were elves and were divided into two classes, the light elves and the dark elves, like the Seelie and Unseelie Court. In Scotland the fairy people of human size were often called elves and Faeryland was Elfame; in England it was the smaller Trooping Fay who were called elves, and the name was particularly applied to small fairy boys.

Erlking

A malevolent goblin from German legend. He haunts forests and lures people, especially children, to destruction. He can also lead the Wild Hunt.

ErlKonig

He is the "Elf King" in Germany. He's been known to warn people of their pending deaths. How he appears will relay to that person how he or she is going to die.

Erreka-Mari

A chieftain among the faeries, this is a Mari siren (Erreka means creek) that lives near small streams. Her name changes according to Toponymia, and she's also known as Mari-Arroka or Mari-Muruko.

-F-

The Fachan

Faeries from the Western Highlands of Scotland. He is portrayed with one leg, one arm and one eye.

Fair Family or Fair Folk

The euphemistic name used by the Welsh for the fairie

Fairy

The original fairies, or faeries, bestowed gifts upon newborn children, such as beauty, wealth and kindness. In the subsequent centuries they continued this original function, but expanded their activities into other types of meddling in human affairs. Fairies can only be seen clearly by animals and seldom by humans, although if one is fortunate enough, one might catch a fleeting glimpse. There are a few exceptions however. The first is when fairies use their power (known as 'glamour') to enable a human to see them. Also, during a full moon on Midsummer Eve a mortal witness fairy dances or celebrations. And finally, by looking through a self-bored stone (a stone in which a hole has been made by tumbling in the waters of a brook; not found on a beach) one can see fairies distinctly. The rulers of the race of fairies are Queen Titania and her consort Prince Oberon, their court being in the vicinity of Stratford-on-Avon. Other synonyms and euphemisms for fairies are: the Little People, the Green Men, the Good Folk and the Lordly Ones

Fand

In Celtic myth Fand is a faery queen, who was once married to the sea god Manannan. Fand was also a minor sea goddess who made her home both in the Otherworld and on the Islands of Man. With her sister, Liban, she was one of the twin goddesses of health and earthly pleasures. She was also known as "Pearl of Beauty". Some scholars believe she was a native Manx deity who was absorbed in the Irish mythology.

Farisees

(Or Pharisees). The Suffolk name for fairies. The Suffolk children used to be confused between the Farisees and the biblical mentions of the Pharisees.

Fary

The dialect name in Northumberland.

Fays

The dialect name in Northumberland.

Feeorin

The collective word for fairies who are usually friendly towards mankind, or at least neutral. They are depicted as small creatures with a green skin and wearing red hats. They enjoy singing and dancing.

Fees

The fairies of Upper Brittan

The Fenoderee

He is a type of Brownie from the Isle of Man. He is not very intelligent, but he is a hard worker who, with his great strength, has performed many tasks for the farmers of Man. He goes around naked and the offer of clothes will greatly offend him, causing him to stop working. The Fenoderee used to belong to the Ferrishyn, an elfish-tribe on the Isle of Man, until he made the mistake of wooing a mortal girl. He was punished by loosing his good looks, and he turned into the ugly, solitary creature he is now.

Feriers/Ferishers

The usual name for the Shetland and Ocadian fairies.

Ferrishyn

(Ferrishin). A Manx name for the fairy tribe; the singular is "Ferrish". They are the Trooping Fairies of Man, though there does not seem to be any distinction between them and the Sleih Beggey. They are less aristocratic than the fairies of Ireland and Wales, and they have no named fairy king or queen. They were small, generally described as three feet in height, though sometimes as one foot. They could hear whatever was said out of doors. Every wind stirring carried the sound to their ears, and this made people very careful to speak of them favourably.

Fifinella

A female of the Gremlin family who tickled fighter pilots and bombardiers just as their sights were lined up for a good run.

Finvarra

King of the Connaught Fairies. Onagh is his consort, supreme King and Queen of the Sidhe. He was famed for his benevolence toward humans.

Fir Darrig

(Pronounced "fear dearg";). They delight in practical joking of a rather gruesome nature

and therefore it is probably safer to humour them and leave them alone!

Foawr

(Pronounced "fooar"). Manx equivalent of Highland Fomorians. Nasty beings, they are stone-throwing giants and often ravish cattle.

Frairies

The Norfolk and Suffolk, local version of the word "fairy".

Frau Welt

The name that was given to the female supernatural paramour or fairy mistress of general European folk belief by medieval clerics; and according to them, the Devil.

Fyglia

A sort of personal spirit. They often take an animal form. The Native Americans call them "fetches" and use them as totems. They serve mostly as personal guardians.

-G-Gans

Apache Indian Shamen offer prayers to the Gans, asking them to drive evil spirits away and to attract good fortune.

The Gentry

The most noble tribe of all the fairies in Ireland. A big race who came from the planets and usually appear in white. The Irish used to bless the Gentry for fear of harm otherwise.

Ghillie Dhu

He is a solitary Scottish elf who lives in birches. His clothes are woven from leaves and moss.

The Glaistig

A water-spirit who is half a lovely woman and half a goat. The goat part she tries to hide underneath a long green robe. She invites a man to dance with her, before she feeds on his blood. Contrarily, she can also be very friendly towards children and the elderly. Sometimes she also herds the cattle for farmers.

Goblins

Goblins are a different, more grotesque variety of gnomes. They are known to be playful, but at other time they are evil and their tricks could seriously harm people. A goblin smile curdles the blood and a laugh sours the milk and causes fruit to fall from the trees. They pester humans in a number of ways, such as hiding small objects, tipping over pails of milk and altering signposts.

Goblins originated in France and spread rapidly all over Europe. They have no homes and usually live in mossy clefts in rocks and roots of ancient trees, although they never stay very long in the same place.

Golem

A Jewish zombie-like spirit who is to avenge a wrongful death. In Jewish legend, a Golem is an image or form that is given life through a magical formula, such as the power of the letters of the divine name. The word is used to denote anything that is not yet fully developed. In the Middle Ages is was believed that there were wise men who could instil life in effigies by the use of a magic spell. These golems then took the form of a robot, or automaton. They would carry out their master's command and could perform easy tasks, as well as protecting their creators.

Goric

A type of Breton gnome believed to inhabit dolmens and other megaliths. (See also Crion).

Grant

In English folklore, the Grant is a creature that looks like a yearling foal with sparkling eyes. He prances about the streets of a village at midnight day or sundown, often capering on his hind legs. All the dogs run after him. His presence is a warning of danger, and those who see him are sure that their houses will catch on fire, or some misfortune will occur.

The Green Children

The fairy are recorded in the medieval chronicles under such a name.

Greencoaties

The name for the fairies that dwell in Lincolnshire Fen country.

Green Fairy

Also called La Fée Verte, a nickname for the alcoholic drink absinthe, so named for its green colour and intoxicating and seductive properties. Originally represented as a green woman, later she has been represented as a more traditional green coloured fairy.

Greenies

The euphemistic name used for the fairies in Lancashire, associated with the Jacobean Fairies.

The Green Lady of Caerphilly

Takes on the appearance of ivy when she is not walking through the ruined castles she haunts.

The Green Man

A legendary pagan deity who roams the woodlands of the British Isles and Europe. He usually is depicted as a horned man peering out of a mask of foliage, usually the sacred oak.

Gremlin

Little, mischievous spirits of tools and machinery. They are responsible for the little mishaps when working with tools, such as the sudden diversion of a hammer towards your thumb when you are driving a nail. Originally they were friendly towards mankind, and helped them with many inventions. But when those engineers and mechanics claimed all the credit of these inventions for themselves, this insult soured the gremlin attitude towards mankind.

The Grey Neighbours

One of the euphemistic names for the fairies given by the Shetlanders to the Trows, the small grey-clad goblins whom the Shetlanders used to propitiate and fear, using against them many of the means used all over the islands as protection against fairies.

Guillyn Veggey

The Little Boys is a Manx term for the fairies who dwell on the Isle of Man.

Gwrach y Rhibyn

"Witch Rhibyn", the Welsh equivalent of the Banshee. She warns only families of pure Welsh stock.

The Gwragedd Annwn

(Pronounced "Gwrageth anoon";). They are Welsh water faeries, beautiful Lake Maidens who occasionally take mortals to be their husbands. One legend has it that they live in a sunken city in one of the many lakes in Wales. People claim to have seen towers under

water and heard the chiming of bells.

Gwyllion

(Pronounced "gwithleeon"). The Gwyllion is a mythological creature from Wales. Even though these elfish creatures are mostly harmless you should always invite them into your house and treat them well, because if you don't, it may result in destruction. The female faerie is very hideous and its only job is to cause travellers to become lost. Many times they just bother you or possibly frighten you by sitting on either side of a mountain path and following the traveler with their eyes.

-H-Hags

They are the personification of winter in the British Isles, and are said to be the traces of the most ancient goddesses. The hag is regarded as the personification of winter. In the winter months she is usually old and very ugly looking. As the season changes though she becomes more and more beautiful, and younger. Tangles in the manes of horses and ponies are called hag-knots, supposed to be used witches as stirrups.

Hamadryad

A wood-nymph. Each tree has its own wood-nymph, who dies when the tree dies.

Hedley Kow

The Hedley Kow was a naughty, shape changing, playful elf who lived near the village of Hedley. His appearance was not scary and his tricks were usually harmless, which he always ended with a neighing laughter. A typical trick was to change himself into a bunch of straw. When an elderly woman gathering wood picked up the straw, it suddenly became so heavy she had to put it down. Immediately the straw became 'alive' and then it scuttled away laughing. Other tricks included imitating the voice of a lover, feeding cream to cats, and turning over a bowl of soup.

Heinzelmännchen

Friendly dwarfs or elves from German folk belief. They work at night for people whom they like, or to whom they are indebted.

Henkies

One of the names given to the Trows of Orkney and Shetland.

Hobgoblin

Used by the Puritans and in later times for wicked goblin spirits, but its more correct use is for the friendly spirits of the Brownie type. Hobgoblin was considered an ill omened word. "Hob" and "Lob" are words meaning the same kind of creature as the Hobgoblin. An impish, ugly and mischievous sprite, they are on the whole good-humoured and ready to be helpful, but fond of practical joking.

Hoga

Little people in Halmahera (Moluccas). They tease people, except those who put out food for them. For those good people they will fill the rice-sheds, but at the expense of other people.

Huacas

The Inca term for the numerous gods of nature they worshipped in the shape of rocks, mountains, trees, rivers, lakes, etc.

Huldafolk

They are fairly reclusive Scandinavian faerie folk.

Hyter Sprites

They are faeries from Lincolnshire and East Anglia. Small and sandy-coloured, with green eyes, they are able to appear as sand martins (a type of bird).

-I-Ileana Cosanzeana

In Romanian folklore, Ileana is the original concept of feminine beauty, the most beautiful amongst the fairies: her eyes look like the sun, her body is like the sea and her garments are made of flowers. When she sings, pearls and gold flow out of her mouth.

Ishigaq

The little people of Eskimo legends. They are supposed to be about a foot high, and float/travel inches above the ground. Live much like normal Eskimos. Info from Yupik/Inupiaq of Norton Sound Region of Alaska.

-J-Jack-In-Irons

A very dangerous giant who haunts the deserted roads in Yorkshire. He is covered with chains and the heads of his victims. His weapon is a large club with spikes.

Jenny Greenteeth

A Yorkshire River Hag who drowns children. An ugly old woman with a green skin, long hair and sharp teeth who inhabits the river Tees. She grabs the ankles of those who stand to close to the water, pulls them under water and drowns them. Swimming or wading in this river is strongly discouraged.

Jimaninos

These seasonal faeries are found in Mexico and Central America. They resemble pudgy children with wings and aid in the turning of the Wheel Of the Year. Males are Jimaninos, females are Jimaninas.

Jimmy Squarefoot

His appearance is said to be frightening, but he is actually harmless.

-K-Kabouter

Dutch variant of the Leprechaun. They are friendly little beings, about 15 cm. in height.

Kachina

Generally Kachinas refer to any masked figure or doll. But in the mythic sense and ritual significance they are better conceived as spirits of the dead or departed. After the end of a good life, they go to the West, where the sun sets, and become Kachinas, but there is no clear identity with the deceased and a specific Kachina. There are two categories: chief and common. Chief Kachinas do not participate in group dancing, common Kachinas do.

Kaukis

The Prussian version of gnomes.

The Kelpie

In old Scotland, the Kelpie is a treacherous water devil who lurks in lakes and rivers. It usually assumes the shape of a young horse. When a tired traveller stops by a lake to rest or to have a drink, he would see a horse, apparently peacefully grazing. When he mounts the

horse, the Kelpie dives into the water and drowns its victim. Occasionally is helped millers by keeping the mill-wheel going at night.

The Killmoulis

A very ugly creature who dwells in mills. He has an enormous nose but no mouth. He probably eats by stuffing food through his nostrils. A Killmoulis is a hard worker and a great help to a miller, but with his tricks he is sometimes more a nuisance than a help.

Klaboutermannikin

They inhabit the figureheads of ships, giving them guidance and protection.

Klippe

The Forfarshire name for a fairy.

Knockers

The knockers are a variety of Kobolds. They live in mines and are usually good-natured. With a knocking sound they point out where the rich veins are to be found. Although they are usually friendly towards miners, they can play strange tricks. For a knocker there is nothing funnier than to scare miners by changing its ugly face to something even more horrible, while performing strange dances. In Wales, they are called Coblynau (or Coblyn) or Buccas, who are related to their cousins in Cornwall.

Kobolds

In German (Teutonic) folklore, kobolds are spirits who dwell in mines and who like to torment humans. They are tricksters and not inherently evil. Like Robin Goodfellow, they may either help or harass humans, for unknown reasons. In the 16th and the 17th century, they were usually depicted on paintings as little devils with a conical hat, pointy shoes, a hairy tail, and bald feet instead of hands. In the class of fairy-like beings, they are considered to be the most dangerous and most ugly.

Korred

Bizarre-looking and capricious but generally good-natured guardians of Brittany's standing stones.

Kriksy

The night-hag of Russian folklore.

Kubera

King of the Yakshas, the Hindu god of wealth. He is also known as Dhanapati, 'lord of riches'. Kubera is physically envisioned as a dwarf with an ugly and deformed body. His skin is white and he has three legs. He has a set of only eight teeth. In the Vedic times in Indian Mythology, Kubera was a being associated with evil. He is assisted in his duties by his constant attendants, the Kinnaras, male creatures, and their female counterparts, the Kinnoris.

Kul

In Siberian (Ziryen) mythology, the Kul are water-spirits who rule over lakes and rivers. They are hostile towards humans, and inflict sickness at a whim. The Kul are closely connected to the underworld. The most important water-spirit is Ulkalan-tojon, "the master of all waters". They are found in the western districts of the Ostyak and in the northern part of Vogul territory.

-L-The Lady of the Lake

She is a faerie whose palace is hidden by the illusion of a lake. Otherworldly affiliated enchantress possibly originating from an archetype of a Celtic priestess. The name suggests a part played by more than one individual. Several Ladies are found in the literature in differing circumstances but they are almost indistinguishable from one another and there is no geographically identifiable lake.

Laminak

Basque fairies, related to the Celtic little people. The Laminak live underground in beautiful castles.

Lamiñas

Lamiñas are evil faeries of the País Vasco. They live in the woods and in the shores of streams and rivers. They usually appear as women (they can also appear as men, but that is rare). The only means to distinguish them from normal people is to see that part of their body which is fish or bird. Of course, usually it is easy because it is fifty-fifty, but the animal detail can sometimes be as small as a goat leg or a chicken foot.

Leanan Sidhe

Often quoted as meaning "the fairy mistress" or the "fairy sweetheart". She is a the famous Celtic muse with such a dark and unearthly beauty that her lover was often distraught with longing and suffering for her absence. On the Isle of Man, the Leanan Sidhe is a vampiric female spirit, while on in Ireland she is the muse of poetry. Those who are inspired by her

usually live a glorious, but short life.

Leprechaun

Very small sprites who sometimes live in farmhouses or wine cellars. They are known to aid humans and perform small labours for them. Sometimes they ask humans for supplies and furniture, for which in return they give objects which bring luck and fortune. Leprechauns are called fairy cobblers, for they make shoes for elves (but always one shoe, never a pair). They are seen quite often by humans and are described as merry little fellows gaily dressed in old-fashioned clothes; green, with a red cap, leather apron, and buckled shoes. When they finish their daily tasks, Leprechauns like to organize wild feast, during which time they are referred to as Cluricauns. These (often drunk) Cluricauns can then be seen riding in moonlight on the back of a dog or a sheep. According to popular belief, a Leprechaun possesses a treasure (usually a pot of gold) which a human may obtain if he succeeds in capturing one, which is extremely difficult. Even after capture, a person may not take his eyes off of him for an instant, for then he will vanish. Leprechauns are mainly found in Irish folklore.

The Little People of the Passamaquoddy Indians

There are two kinds: the Nagumwasuck and the Mekumwasuck. They're both two to three feet tall and ugly. The Passamaquody Indians live close to the Canadian border. The Nagumwasuck are closely involved with their humans, often singing sadly when there is a death in the tribe, and they dance at weddings. They are self-conscious of their ugliness, and it is near fatal to laugh at them. The Mekumwasuck live in the woods and dress outlandishly. Their faces are covered with hair. They are the guardians of the Catholic Church. If a Mekumwasuck looks directly at you, you either die or acquire a contagious disease of some sort.

Lliannan-She

In the Isle of Man, a spirit friend, a female fairy who waited to encounter men. If one spoke to her she followed him always, but remained invisible to everyone else.

The Lunantishee, or Lunantishess

A tribe of fairies who guard blackthorn bushes (one of the Fairy Trees). They will not allow that a blackthorn stick is cut on May 11th (originally May Day) or November 11 (originally All Hallows Eve). Should a person manage to cut a stick, some misfortune will surely befall him or her.

Lutin

In the folklore of Normandy, a goblin, similar to the house-spirits of Germany. The name was formerly Netun and is said to be derived from Neptune. When the Lutin assumes the form of a horse ready equipped, it is called Le Cheval Bayard.

Ly Erg

This faerie yearns to be a soldier. He dresses like one and cannot be distinguished from human soldiers except by his red-stained hands, red from the blood he has shed.

-M-

Mab

The Queen of the Faeries. She is often portrayed as a trickster who robs dairies and steals babies. Mab first appeared in post-sixteenth century English literature, in the poems Nimphidia, and Entertainment at Althorpe by Ben Jonson. The origin of Queen Mab is most likely Celtic, either from Mabb of Welsh Mythology or Maeve (Maebhe) of the Cuchullain tales.

Mamur

Of the family of Imps, it is a small Dwarf, sometimes horned, that wears a red, pointed hat (as all Imps) and red chausses. Mamures have many names. Mamures are so small they can dwell in a pin's box. They belong to a human, not to a house, and they work hard, and help and obey their master. This one can sell them or give them to one of his children or other relative.

Mara

A goblin from Scandinavian folklore who seizes men in their beds and takes away all speech and motion.

Mazikeen

The ancient Hebrews mentioned little winged, elf-like beings called Mazikeen. These tiny creatures could change themselves into whatever shape they desired.

Mermaids

A marine creature with the head and upper body of a beautiful young maiden and with the lower body of a fish. She can be found in seas and lakes, or lying on a rock and combing her hair with one hand while holding a mirror in the other. Mermaids sometimes foretell the future and are often accompanied by seals. According to myth, they lure sailors by singing and with lovely music. They live in a kingdom on the bottom of the sea, and it is here they take their prisoners to. From this story, the fear amongst the sailor grew and they thought that seeing a mermaid would cause bad luck: it could predict death by drowning. The belief in mermaids is not limited to a few countries, but there are tales from all over the world (in India, for instance, there are the Apsara, beautiful water nymphs). However, most of those tales were told by sailors who "saw" them on their long journeys.

The idea of Mermaids and Mermen, the male equivalent, could be based on creatures from Greek and Babylonian mythology: Sirens and Tritons of the Greeks, and the fish gods, who were half human and half fish, from the Babylonians.

Meerows

The Irish mere-folk distinguish themselves from other sea-elves by wearing red feathered hats which they use to find their homes. Should such a hat be stolen, the Merrow would be unable to return to his home. Although the males are ugly, they are very friendly and cheerful. The females are gentle and beautiful creatures who often fall in love with fishermen. Merrows appear as portents of oncoming storms. Sometimes they come ashore in the shape of small, hornless cattle.

Mitmit

A mischievous Hungarian being, quite small, whose favourite game is to wink at people from the bushes. It lives near waters.

Mooinjer Veggey

(Pronounced moo-in-jer vegar). "The Little People". The Manx name for the faeries who dwell on the Isle of Man.

Mother Holle

A crone who lives at the bottom of old wells. She dispenses justice and might aid you with guidance and divination if she likes you.

Mumiai

Best known for persecuting peasants, especially those of the lowest castes, who had stolen from their neighbours or demonstrated their dirty habits. The Mumiai toss their belongings in the air, break their pottery and trample on their gardens, finally forcing them to move out of their villages.

The Muryans

(Cornish for "ant") are believed to be the souls of ancient heathen people, too good for hell and too bad for heaven. Their size gradually dwindled until they were the size of ants, after which they vanished and no one knows what became of them. Another traditions tells that the Muryans were shape-changers and that after each time they changed, they became a little smaller. In Cornwall it was considered unlucky to kill ants.

-N-Nagas

Nagas are human from the waist up and snake from the waist down and are often seen wearing hooded canopies or with seven or more heads. Both sexes are extraordinarily beautiful and several royal Indian families claim to be descended from them. They bite humans who are evil or destined to die prematurely. Buddhists regard them as minor deities and door guardians.

Nain Rouge

"Red dwarf". A Lutin or house spirit of Normandy, kind to fishermen. There is another called le petit homme rouge (the little red man).

Nocnitsa

The night-hag of Russian, Polish, Serbian, and Slovak folklore. She torments children at night. In some regions, the mothers place a knife in the cradle or draw a circle around it with a knife. Hiding an ax or a doll under the floor beneath the cradle also prevents her from getting at the child (possible based on the belief that supernatural beings cannot touch iron). Other names for the hag include Kriksy and Plaksy. Her Bulgarian equivalent is the Gorska Makva, a hideous wood-hag.

Nuckelavee

He is the most horrible of all the Scottish elves. He lives mainly in the sea, but was also held responsible for ruined crops, epidemics, and drought. His breath could wilt the crops and sicken the livestock. He looks like a horse whose legs are part fin; he has an enormous snout-like mouth, and a single, fiery eye. His arms reach to the ground, his body is distorted and his huge head sways on a small neck, as if it is to weak to hold the head. The most gruesome about his appearance is the fact that he has no skin. Black blood courses through yellow veins and the pale sinews and powerful muscles are clear to see. He has an aversion of running water and those who are chased by him have only to cross a stream to get rid of him.

Númen

(Plural, Númenes). In northern Spain, but mostly in Basque country, it is a generic name that applies to all sprites and spirits or supernatural beings.

Nunnehi

Cherokee version of elves. They live in towns beneath the ground. Nunnehi are saddened by the suffering incurred by the Cherokee and occasionally offer assistance. Nunnehi led the Cherokee to Pilot Knob, North Carolina, where they passed through the realm of the Nunnhei and were safe.

Nunus

They are little creatures or dwarfs. They live in a rock of two holes. They help and are kind to anyone who passes them; they even offer them to live in their rock.

-O-Oannes

Fish-headed beings from another world, these were considered to be sea-gods by the ancient Chaldeans. Oannes lived among men by day, building the great Sumerian civilization and teaching art, science, and religion, while at night they returned to the Persian Gulf to swim in the ocean.

Obrigwabibikwa

In Pygmy myth, a dwarf who is able to change himself into a reptile.

Ogre

In folklore and fairy tales Ogres are creatures of very malignant disposition, who live on human flesh. They are larger and broader than a man but somewhat shorter than a giant.

Ohdows

A race of small, well-formed people with the features of the Native Americans who live underground in North America. They use their magic to subdue the earth spirits who cause earthquakes.

The Old People

Another Cornish name for the fairies.

Omang

Little people in the belief of the Batak of Sumatra. They are said to be clever thieves.

-P-Pechs, or Pehts

The Scottish Lowland names for fairies and are confused in tradition with the Picts, the mysterious people of Scotland who built the Pictish Brughs and possibly also the round stone towers. The Pechs were considered tremendous castle builders and were credited with the construction of many of the ancient castles. They could not bear the light of day and so only worked at night, when they took refuge in their Brughs or "Sitheans" at sunrise. It seems likely that some historic memory of an aboriginal race contributed one strand to the twisted cord of fairy tradition.

Peg Powler

An ugly old woman with a green skin, long hair and sharp teeth who inhabits the river Tees. She grabs the ankles of those who stand to close to the water, pulls them under water and drowns them. Swimming or wading in this river is strongly discouraged.

The People of the Hills

English faeries who live under green mounds.

People of Peace

Fairies who live under the green mounds, or tumuli, all over England. The Irish often referred to the Sidhe in this manner. The word Sidhe means peace.

Peri

A Persian fairy. Evil Peris are called “Deevs”

Phooka

The Phooka is a harmless Irish Goblin who appears in a great diversity of animal shapes. He can be seen in the shape of a dog or horse, usually pitch-black with fiery eyes. As an apparently tame and shabby pony, the Phooka offers careless travellers a ride on its back. But as soon as the traveller mounts the horse, he is in for a hell-ride through marshes and thorn-bushes. Then suddenly, he is thrown into a ditch or mud pool and the chuckling he hears is the Phooka galloping away. Sometimes he appears in the form of an eagle and carries people away on his back.

Phynnodderee

A Manx hobgoblin combining the properties of the Scandinavian Troll, the Scottish Brownie and the Irish Leprechaun. The Phynnodderee drives home sheep and helps in the harvesting if a storm is brewing. He possesses great strength.

Picts

The original peoples who dwelled in the north-eastern coast of Ireland. They were called the "Cruithne" and migrated down from Gaul or Galia (France). As the conquering waves of invaders arrived in Ireland, eventually the Picts retreated to the woods and lived in caves and underground forts. They were a small, dark people and became known as the classic Faery-people. See Pechs.

Pigwidgin

A fairy or dwarf; anything very small.

Pixies

Green faeries who often take the form of hedgehogs. In folklore, pixies (or piskies) are little people who believed to live on the downs and moors of Cornwall, England. According to one myth, pixies were originally Druids who resisted Christianity, and the more they resisted the smaller they grew. Yet another myth tells of a race of people who were not good enough for heaven, nor bad enough for hell and were doomed to wander the earth forever. They love to steal horses and ponies and make nocturnal rides on their backs over the heaths and moors, while entangling the manes of the animals. Even inside houses people are not safe to their tricks, such as throwing small objects at the inhabitants. Although pixies like to play, they are hard workers as well. They work on the fields the entire night for some bread and cheese.

Plant Rhys Dwfen

(Pronounced "plant hree thoovn"). The Plant Rhys Dwfen ("children of Deep Rhys") are a tribe of fairies who inhabit a small land which is invisible because of a special herb that grows there. They are handsome, less than average in height, and grateful to those who treat them fairly. They often visit markets in Cardigan where they pay such high prices for goods that ordinary buyers can not compete with them. When visiting the main land, they assume human form.

Plur na mBan

She was the daughter of Niamh, the faerie queen of Tir na n-Og, and the Irish bard Oisin. She was born in the Land of Eternal Youth after her father had left that island forever. Plur na mBan became the faerie-goddess of Beltaine, the 1st of May, the ancient Celtic celebration.

Polevik

A Polish faerie, he appears as a two-footed goat and helps to bring in the harvest. A Slavic spirit of the field.

Portunes

Portunes are tiny medieval fairies, described by Gervase of Tilbury as being the size of a finger. They are very old men with wrinkled faces who work on human farms. Friendly and helpful they may be, at night they cannot resist grabbing the bridle of a horse and leading the horse and its rider into ponds.

Puck

Puck, or Robin Goodfellow, is a character from Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream". With his flute, made from a willow twig, he accompanies fairies on their moonlight dances. He is closely related to the Irish Phooka and the Bwca from Wales.

-Q-

-R-Rakshasas

Shape-shifting demon goblins. They can appear as monsters, animals, or beautiful women to seduce holy men and then eat them. They have side tusks, ugly eyes, curling awkward brows, bull's heads, bloated bellies, tangled hair, and backward pointing hands. They can cause leprosy, raise the dead, and regenerate severed limbs.

Redcap

One of the most evil of the old Border Goblins. He lives in old ruined towers and castles, particularly those with a history of wickedness. He re-dyes his cap in human blood.

Rimenanwe

The little people of the Marshall Islands. They are rascally little fellows, who mostly steer clear of humans, but like to "borrow" canoes and food and such, as they can get away with it.

Roane

Irish name for the Selkie.

-S-Seelie Court

The Court of the kind and benign fairy host, usually seen around twilight in long solemn processions. These fairies help the poor with gifts of corn and bread. The opposite of the Seelie Court ("Blessed Court") is the evil Unseelie Court.

Selkies

The seas around Orkney and Shetland harbour the Selkies or Seal-Faeries (known as Roane in Ireland). The shy Selkies are marine creatures in the shape of a seal. They can be found near the islands of Orkney and Shetland. A female can shed her skin and come ashore as a beautiful woman. When a man finds the skin, he can force the Selkie to be a good, if somewhat sad, wife. Should she ever recover the skin, she will immediately return to sea, leaving her husband behind. The male Selkies are responsible for storms and also for the sinking of ships, which is their way of avenging the hunting of seals.

Shellycoat

A Scottish bogeyman who haunts the rivers and streams. He is covered with shells, which rattle when he moves, announcing his presence. He enjoys misleading wanderers and often puts them on the wrong track. The Shellycoat is playful, but rather harmless. Generally, the creatures who inhabit rivers are less dangerous than those who live in lakes and seas.

Sidhe, Sith, or Si

Sidhe (pronounced "shee") literally means "people of the (fairy) hills". It is the Gaelic name for the fairies in both Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland. Usually these fairies are attracted to those who are beautiful as well as wealthy.

Silent Moving Folk

The Scottish fairies who live in green knolls and in the mountain fastnesses of the Highlands. See Still-folk.

Sluag

(Pronounced "sloo-ah"). Sluag was the Pictish/Scottish fairy of the Highlands and Host of the Unforgiven Dead. Related to the Irish/Celtic Sluagh.

Sluagh

(Pronounced "sloo-a"). The most formidable of the Highland fairy people; The host of the Unforgiven Dead. By some scholars, they are regarded as the fallen angels, not the dead,

but on the whole their accounts correspond closely to that given by Alexander Carmichael in "Carmina Gadelica".

Solitary Fairies

The fairies who are chiefly malignant or ominous creatures, comprise this group, although there may be a few nature spirits or dwindled gods among them. An exception is the Brownie and its variants - though there are few family groups among the Brownies - some think that they were unacceptable in Faeryland because of their ragged, unkempt appearance, and that they went off to the Seelie Court when they were properly dressed. However, this is only one school of thought on the subject. Other creatures, such as the Leprechaun, Pooka, and Bean Si, also comprise this group.

Spriggans

Spriggans are ugly, grotesque creatures and although there are very small, they can enlarge themselves to the size of a giant. They are the guardians of treasure mounds. Spriggans are clever and dangerous thieves who are capable of robbing the homes of humans and stealing their children. Often they would leave a Spriggan baby in the child's place. They control whirlwinds with which they destroy corn-fields, and they scorch the crops, besides other unpleasantness.

Sprites

A sprite is a kind of fairy or elf. Sprite comes from the Latin word spiritus or spirit and once meant "soul" or "ghost." Sprites are used in many folktales. Sprites are creatures of the element water. They are found only in places where it is serene and cool. They like to play with nymphs or torment butterflies. (The butterflies don't really mind.) Sprites have one very important job, which is going around and changing the colours of a tree's leaves in Autumn. They have many cans of bright paint in every shade between red and yellow. This makes sure they don't run out. Sprites are very creative. They are muses, artists, and poets. They are some of the most creative fairies. Some even decide to bond or marry a human or elf and stay with them their whole lives.

Still-Folk

The Scottish name for the Highland fairies. (See Silent Moving Folk).

-T-Themselves, They, or Them that's in it

The most common Manx names used in place of the word "fairy", which was generally considered an unlucky word to use. It is sometimes said that "themselves" are the souls of those drowned in Noah's flood.

Tiddy Ones, or Tiddy People

The Lincolnshire fenman's nature spirits, which are also referred to as the Yarthkins or Strangers. These are usually groups of influential spirits, rather than individuals. They are generally helpful. Tiddy Mun was often invoked to withdraw flood waters. However, if they are hurt (physically or emotionally), they throw tantrums and cast pestilence on cattle and children.

Tinkerbell

Originally from the Peter Pan stories by J. M. Barrie, but more famous for the Disney version. She is also often referred to as a Pixie, and leaves a trail of fairy dust (or pixie dust) behind wherever she goes.

Tokolosh

A South African faerie; Tokolosh is a sullen spirit who lives beside streams, throwing stones into the water on still nights. He is famous for frightening lone travellers, usually by jumping on a small animal or bird and strangling it so that the poor animal's panicked cry alarms the traveller. He is described as being something like a baboon, but smaller and without a tail, and covered with black hair.

The Tooth Faerie

She is a kindly faerie who keeps a tooth collection. When a child loses a tooth, if he or she wraps it carefully in tissue, cloth, or in a special tooth pillow, she will come and collect it, leaving money as a thank you. Over the years, she has kept up with economic inflation. The current rate is approximately a dollar per tooth.

Trolls

In Scandinavian myth, trolls are ugly, malicious creatures and the enemies of mankind. They are much bigger and stronger than humans, and leave their caves only after dark to hunt. If they are exposed to sunlight they will instantly turn to stone. Trolls are very fond of human flesh. In later myths they are roughly the size of humans or elves, and thought to be the owners of buried treasures. They are sometimes, although very rarely, portrayed as friendly, less ugly creatures.

Trooping Fay or Faery

The Faery have been divided into two main classes: Trooping and Solitary. It is a distinction that hold good throughout the British Isles, and is indeed valid wherever fairy beliefs are held. The trooping fay can be large or small, friendly or sinister. They tend to wear green jackets, while the Solitary Faery wear red jackets. They can range from the Heroic Faery to the dangerous and malevolent Sluagh, or the Diminutive Fairies who include the tiny nature spirits that make the fairy rings with their dancing and speed the growth of flowers.

Trows

The Trows from the Shetland Islands are similar to the Scandinavian Trolls. Like their Nordic relatives, they hate sunlight, for this turns them into stone. Trows were observed many times performing a strange dance, which the islanders call 'Henking'. There are land-trows and sea-trows. A common phrase used by mother who were angry with their children was 'Trow take thee'.

Tuatha de Donnan

(Pronounced "Tootha day danan"). They once ruled Ireland, but fled underground when Ireland was conquered by the Milesians. When they were driven underground, the became the Daoine Sidhe. Their few remaining descendants are believed to make up the Seelie Court

Tylwyth Teg

The Tylwyth Teg ("the fair people") are Welsh fairies who live in lakes or streams or in hollows of the hills. The females are called y mamau (the mothers), a title which links them to the pagan Celtic deities, the Matres. Associated with them are the usual traditions of moonlight dance, the supernatural passage of time, the stealing of children, and the substitution of changelings. They are especially interested in children with golden hair. Their favourites they enrich with precious gifts, which disappear when these gifts are spoken of.

-U-Unseelie Court

The evil counterpart of the Seelie Court is always unfavourable towards mankind. The part which flies through the sky at night is called the 'Horde'. Mortals unfortunate enough to cross the Horde's path are taken along for a hell-ride. These poor victims are beaten and pinched and forced to participate in the bizarre nocturnal activities of these creatures. The Unseelie Court ("Unholy Court") solely consists of those of the fairy-like beings which are the most ugly and evil.

Urisk

The Urisk is a solitary Scottish elf who lives in remote pools and rivers. He is friendly and likes the company of humans, but his curious appearance usually scares away those he approaches.

-V-Venusleute

Venusleute (people of Venus) were in German tales little people living in rocks near Zulova (Sumperk county, Czech Republic). They were very small, but pretty, and used to help and give food to lost children. They also bathed, cooked and washed their clothes in rock "bowls" often found in local rocks. Venusleute also sometimes used a cap of invisibility.

Verry Volk

The name of the fairies in Gower of Wales; little people dressed in scarlet and green.

Virikas

Never more than eighteen inches tall, these unpleasant spectral entities can be recognized by their flaming red colour and their horribly pointed, bloodstained teeth. They gather outside the homes of men soon to die and jabber excitedly. To prevent this, people can erect a small shrine in their honour and burn daily gifts of flowers and spices for them.

-W-Water Leaper

The Water Leaper (Llamhigyn Y Dwr) is a tailed, winged, toad-like creature which lurks in Welsh lakes and preys on fishermen.

Wee Folk

One of the Scottish and Irish names for the fairies.

The White Ladies

The use of White Ladies for both ghosts and fairies is an indication of the close connection between fairies and the dead. The White Ladies were direct descendants of the Tuatha De Danann.

Wichtlein

From Southern Germany. They behave in much the same way as Goblins. They announce the death of a miner by tapping three times. When a disaster is about to happen they are heard digging, pounding and imitating miners work.

Will O' the Wisp

Will-o'-the-wisps are the faint lights seen on marshes and bogs on still nights after sunset. Usually a soft bluish light, but also reddish or greenish in appearance. In folklore, they are

thought to be imps or pixies leading victims to danger in swamps and heaths. Sometimes they are believed to be the spirits of stillborn children flitting between heaven and hell. It is also known as Jack O'Lantern, Peg-a-Lantern, Friar's Lantern, Spunkie, Fox Fire, and Walking Fire. The classical name for this phenomena is Ignus Fatuus ("fools fire").

-X-Xanas

A kind of nymph or faerie of Asturias, they are derived from Celtic mythology. They live near streams, and spend their day singing beautiful tunes and combing their wonderful hair.

-Y-Yakshas

Benevolent nature spirits; they are the guardians of treasures hidden in the earth and the roots of trees. Their ruler is Kubera, who lives on a mountain in the Himalayas. They are deities of cities, districts, lakes, and wells, and are thought to have originated from a cult of the ancient Dravidians.

Yann-an-Od

Kindly old shepherd who tends sheep. He might have once been a faerie king. He's rather shy of humans.

Yumboes

Located on Goree Island, south of the Cape Verde Peninsula in Senegal, West Africa. They are two feet tall with pearly skin and silver hair. They are also called the "Bakhna Rakhna" which translates to "The Good People." They enjoy dancing and feasting by moonlight and live in magnificent subterranean dwellings in the Paps, groups of hills about three miles from the coast. Guests to their homes report lavishly decorated tables and servants invisible except for their hands and feet. They like to eat fish.

-Z-Nothing for Z...

-Nonverbal Communication-

For important or secret information faeries often engage in nonverbal communication, using their wings, ears, and fingers. Faeries also often express their emotions by way of nonverbal communication.

Wings: Buzzing—Angry - This is done by clicking the wings together very rapidly.Spread Wide—DefensivePinned Back—ScaredSlow Fanning—RelaxedRapid Fluttering—Happy and excited

Ears:Red—Embarrassed or angryTwitching—Nervous - Also a sign that the faerie is lying.Perked—CuriousDrooping—Sad

Fingers:Wave fingers left to right, palm down— I have a secret to tell you.Wiggle just pinkie finger, right hand— You’re cute!

Faeries don’ t like it when you say no, so many faeries will tell you that the faerie word for “no” is ahbottensottensesosametonmotonsshh just so you won’t say it very often.