Fairy vs. Faerie

What is Their Main Difference?

The terms 'fairy' and 'faerie' refer to supernatural beings that are typically depicted as small, magical creatures with wings. The difference is that 'fairy' is the more common spelling, while 'faerie' is an archaic and uncommon spelling.

Differences

Traditionally, 'fairy' is the more common spelling and is used to refer to a wide variety of supernatural beings, often associated with European folklore and mythology. This term is also often used in modern contexts, such as in fantasy literature and media, to refer to magical creatures with similar characteristics.

Example

There were a lot of fairies in Peter Pan movie.

The artist created a painting of a beautiful fairy with delicate wings.

On the other hand, 'faerie' is a less common spelling that is often used to refer specifically to the realm or world of fairies. This term is often associated with Celtic mythology and folklore, and is sometimes used to evoke a sense of otherworldliness or mysteriousness.

Example

The author's book was set in a dark and mysterious faerie realm filled with dangerous creatures.

The musician wrote a song about a faerie princess who lived in a castle made of crystal.

Similarities

Both 'fairy' and 'faerie' refer to supernatural beings that are typically depicted as small, magical creatures with wings. The two words are pronounced the same way. Take a look below:

Example

I wish I could go to the fairy land once again.

The faerie queen ruled over a magical kingdom hidden in the forest.

Are They Interchangeable?

These two words are often used interchangeably. In general, the choice between 'fairy' and 'faerie' is largely a matter of personal preference or stylistic choice. However, some writers and fantasy authors may use one term over the other to create a particular mood or atmosphere in their writing.

Example

✓ The fairies are having a meeting in the main hall.

✓ The faeries are having a meeting in the main hall.

Comments

(9)

Holly Williams

Oct 2023

The only difference here is the spelling. Standardized spelling in the English language did not come about until the late 1500's. Prior to that, a lot of words were simply spelled phonetically and there were many ways to spell the same word. What the last answer is implying is that fairy or fairies were "good" and the faery or faeries were "evil". This is not accurate. Good and evil were labels placed on fae creatures in relation to their believed behavior and the spelling of the word didn't matter at all. "Good" fae were the faeries of the Summer Court who were also referred to as the Seelie Court and "Evil" fae were referred to as the Unseelie Court. The difference between the two came down to whether or not a type of fae was more likely to do nice things or actively try to harm people. They came in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Some had wings and others did not. For example: elves, brownies, trolls, kelpies, red caps, undines, selkies, and mere people did not have wings, but they all fell under the umbrella of "fae". The Fae are not Angels. Angels are divine messengers. The Fae are Nature Spirits.

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Langeek

Oct 2023

Thanks for the feedback! The content has been improved.

Joshua Lantz

Jul 2023

What are the physical differences? How large or small can they be? Are they related to angels? What kinds of wings do they have?

Delores Pumphrey

Jul 2023

I walk the Wiccan life, and we call the magickal fae as Faeries. We differentiate between Faeries and Fairy and use Faeries because Fairies were storybook which presented them as not real. We consider Faeries to be real, and yes, they can be mischief creatures but they are also very magick but never evil. We also do not look at the word "magic" in our vocabulary reason being magic is for magicians performing their magic tricks, whereas, we Magick is something we perform by the Moon whether it be full, waxing, waning or Dark coinciding for results you wish to achieve. We consider Magick to be very serious and nothing to play around with unlike the word magic.

Jun 2023

Mary, Thank you for setting the record straight! I would hope this narrative would change.

Cameo Stark

May 2023

This is wrong. There is no difference in meaning. Faerie is just the archaic/traditional spelling.

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Langeek

May 2023

"Fairy" is used more to describe the creature, while "faerie" is more commonly used to describe the magical world or realm in which the fairies reside. However, both spellings are used interchangeably and the distinction between them is not always clear-cut.

Dec 2022

Up and at 'em! What you've written here is incorrect. Fairy and faerie are not different words, they are different spellings. I have never read nor heard otherwise, from any source. Still, I'm fond of surprises, so just now I checked around a bit, but found nothing to corroborate your claim. Of course Google says you're right, because someone working there has chosen you as a credible source, goodness knows why.

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Jan 2023

The only difference is archaic versus modern. Faerie is the English adaptation of the Old French 'faierie', which had no connotation of evil. The Old English spelling of faerie is still used throughout the world. While the variation ‘fairy’ did emerge as part of modern English, it was American culture that populated its use. It began with the reduction of letters in words when setting the typeface of the early printing press. A key aim of the industrial revolution was streamlining; fewer letters meant less tiles to place in the frame, which sped up the production process. This then populated the new spelling variations into modern culture. In the 20th Century, one only needs to look at the Disney franchise for mass popularisation of the modern spelling. Fairy became the norm for many children, who then passed that knowledge on to their children, and they onto theirs. Hence the proliferation of the spelling in the 21st Century. Despite the push for change, faerie remains relevant in many educational settings throughout the world including England, Australia, and New Zealand. To suggest a blanket description that faerie is always equated with evil breaks the hearts of millions of children around the world who use the archaic spelling. While some writers may prefer to use the archaic spelling for dramatic effect when profiling evil in their narratives, this does not constitute evidence. Rather it is a cultural adaption of a word; the original meaning of the word remains the same. Inevitably, modernisation will eventually win out as the globalisation of culture continues. The modern spelling ‘fairy’ will no doubt gain traction as more and more children are exposed to this variant. In the meantime, let's not disillusion many of our young who still hold onto the wonder and magic of faeries/fairies.

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Fairy vs. Faerie

What is Their Main Difference?

Differences

Similarities

Are They Interchangeable?

Comments

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