What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mariposa
Example
La mariposa es un insecto hermoso. [mariposa: noun]
Example
El jardín estaba lleno de mariposas de colores. [mariposas: plural noun]
butterfly
Example
The butterfly landed on the flower and opened its wings. [butterfly: noun]
Example
The caterpillar spun a cocoon and emerged as a beautiful butterfly. [butterfly: noun]
Example
She swam the butterfly stroke in the race. [butterfly: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Butterfly is more commonly used than mariposa in everyday English language. Butterfly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mariposa is less common and is mostly used in Latin American cultures or in Spanish-speaking contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mariposa and butterfly?
Both mariposa and butterfly can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the situation and audience. However, butterfly is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
