Hi there! Have you ever wondered why butterflies are called “butterflies”? There’s a fun story that they were once called “flutterbys,” but that’s not true. Let’s explore where the name “butterfly” really comes from!
The word “butterfly” comes from old languages called Middle English and Old English. People used different spellings back then, but they never really called them “flutterbys.” That idea might have come from a book called “The Last of the Really Great Wang Doodles” by Julie Andrews, but it’s just a fun story.
Experts aren’t completely sure why these beautiful insects got their name. One idea is that some butterflies have wings that look like the color of butter. But since butterflies come in all sorts of colors, many people don’t think this is the real reason.
Another interesting explanation comes from the Dutch language. In Dutch, the word for butterfly sounds like “butter.” They noticed that butterfly droppings looked like butter, which might have inspired the name!
There’s also a magical story that people used to believe. They thought witches could turn into butterflies to sneak around and eat dairy products like butter. This idea adds a bit of mystery to the name!
Different languages have their own unique ways of describing butterflies. In ancient Greek, the word for butterfly also meant “soul.” In Latin, the word led to “pavilion,” because a big tent can look like butterfly wings. In Russian, the word for butterfly can also mean “bow tie.”
Isn’t it fascinating how languages and stories shape the names of things around us? Thanks for exploring this big question with me! If you have more questions, feel free to ask. Keep fluttering by to learn more exciting things!
Gather different materials like colored paper, magazines, and markers. Create a collage that represents the different names and meanings of “butterfly” in various languages. Include words like “soul” from Greek and “pavilion” from Latin. Share your collage with the class and explain the meanings behind each word.
Write a short story or comic strip about a butterfly that can transform into different things, inspired by the magical theories mentioned in the article. Use your imagination to create a fun adventure for your butterfly character. Share your story with a partner and discuss the creative ideas you both came up with.
Research how to say “butterfly” in five different languages not mentioned in the article. Create a poster with the words and a picture of a butterfly. Present your findings to the class and teach your classmates how to pronounce each word.
Design and color your own butterfly wings using the colors and patterns you think might have inspired the name “butterfly.” Consider using shades of yellow to represent the “butter” theory. Display your artwork in the classroom and explain your color choices to your classmates.
Work in small groups to research and present on one of the myths or theories about the origin of the word “butterfly.” Decide whether you think the theory is plausible or just a fun story. Present your findings to the class and see which theory is the most popular among your classmates.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Craig. I used to be a caterpillar, but since then, I have blossomed into a beautiful butterfly, and this is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, I’m going to answer Made of Awesome Forever’s big question: I’ve heard that butterflies were once called “flutterbys” and that people mishearing or mispronouncing it changed it to “butterfly.” Is this true? If not, why are butterflies called butterflies?
The idea that butterflies were once called “flutterbys” is a popular story, but like many popular stories, it’s not true. So today, I’m going to tell you where the word “butterfly” actually came from. Let’s get started!
The word “butterfly” evolved from two words in Middle English and Old English. As you can see, the spelling varied, but it’s pretty hard to argue that they were ever called “flutterbys,” except for in the book “The Last of the Really Great Wang Doodles” by Julie Andrews, but that’s probably not what you meant. Experts aren’t totally sure why the insects were initially given the name, though some believe it’s because butterflies have wings that are the color of butter. However, most people dismiss this theory because there are many butterflies that come in various colors.
A more fun explanation is found in the Oxford Dictionary, which claims that the English word was actually a translation from the Dutch word for butterfly. The word literally translates to “butter.” Apparently, as the Dutch were observing butterfly excrement, they realized it looked like butter.
Another explanation is that people believed witches used to turn themselves into butterflies and then would track down and eat dairy products like butter.
English isn’t the only language that has interesting ways of describing butterflies. The ancient Greek word for butterfly was a synonym for “soul.” The Latin word gave us the term “pavilion” because a large tent looks like wings, and the Russian word can also mean “bow tie.”
Thanks for watching Mental Floss on YouTube! If you have a big question of your own, leave it in the comments below. Hope you fly on by next week!
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This version removes any informal language and maintains a clear and respectful tone.
Butterfly – A colorful insect with large wings that flies during the day – The butterfly landed gently on the flower, showing off its bright colors.
Language – A system of words and rules used to communicate with others – Learning a new language can help you talk to people from different countries.
English – The language spoken in many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom – We read a story in English class about a brave knight.
Story – A description of events and characters, often written or told for entertainment – My grandmother told me a story about her adventures when she was young.
Colors – Different shades or hues that can be seen, like red, blue, and green – The artist used bright colors to paint a beautiful sunset.
Magical – Having special powers or qualities that seem mysterious or wonderful – The magician performed a magical trick that amazed the audience.
Theories – Ideas or explanations that try to make sense of something – Scientists have many theories about how the universe began.
Unique – Being the only one of its kind; special or different from others – Her unique style of writing makes her stories very interesting to read.
Ancient – Very old; belonging to a time long ago – The ancient ruins were fascinating to explore and learn about.
Explore – To travel around a place to learn more about it – We decided to explore the forest and see what animals we could find.
