mariposa

See also: Mariposa

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish mariposa (“a butterfly”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌmæɹɪˈpəʊ.sə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌmæɹɪˈpoʊ.sə/
  • (Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˌmɛɹɪˈpoʊ.sə/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊsə

Noun

mariposa (plural mariposas)

1. A mariposa lily (Calochortus spp.).

References

• “mariposa”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• Calochortus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Calochortus on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Category:Calochortus on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons

Anagrams

• parosmia

Asturian

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish mariposa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maɾiˈposa/ [ma.ɾiˈpo.sa]
• Rhymes: -osa
• Syllabification: ma‧ri‧po‧sa

Noun

mariposa f (plural mariposes)

1. butterfly
2. ladybird, ladybug

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:perrín de Dios

Further reading

• “mariposa”, in Diccionariu de la llingua asturiana [Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Asturian), 1st edition, Academy of the Asturian Language [Asturian: Academia de la Llingua Asturiana], 2000, →ISBN
• García Arias, Xosé Lluis (2002–2004), “mariposa”, in Diccionario general de la lengua asturiana [General Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (overall work in Spanish), Editorial Prensa Asturiana, →ISBN

Chavacano

Etymology

Inherited from Spanish mariposa.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: ma‧ri‧po‧sa

Noun

mariposa

1. butterfly

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish mariposa.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ma.ɾiˈpo.zɐ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /mɐ.ɾiˈpɔ.zɐ/

• Hyphenation: ma‧ri‧po‧sa

Noun

mariposa f (plural mariposas)

1. a butterfly
2. (Portugal, swimming) butterfly stroke
3. a moth

Derived terms

• mariposista

Further reading

• “mariposa”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “mariposa”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Sardinian

Noun

mariposa f (plural mariposas)

1. (Campidanese) alternative form of maniposa

Spanish

Etymology

Likely from the Vulgar Latin māreposā, which is a combination of māra (meaning "to flutter") and *pōsa (suggesting "to rest"). Another theory suggests it comes from the phrase María pósate (“Mary, alight!”). This likely stems from the belief that butterflies were the souls of the dead, and the Virgin Mary was often associated with souls. Another theory suggests it might be a combination of "mala pausa," meaning "bad rest" or "bad alighting," reflecting the insect's sometimes erratic flight patterns.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maɾiˈposa/ [ma.ɾiˈpo.sa]

• Audio (Spain):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -osa
• Syllabification: ma‧ri‧po‧sa

Noun

mariposa f (plural mariposas)

1. butterfly
2. (slang) male homosexual
3. (swimming) butterfly stroke
4. creeping beggarweed (Desmodium incanum)
5. white ginger (Hedychium coronarium)
6. butterflies (physical sensation in one's stomach)

Derived terms

• a otra cosa, mariposa
• arbusto de las mariposas
• cazamariposas
• corbata de mariposa
• efecto mariposa
• lirio mariposa
• mariposa de la muerte
• mariposa de la seda
• mariposa luna
• mariposa monarca
• mariposa virrey
• mariposario
• mariposero
• tener mariposas en el estómago

Descendants

• ⇒ English: mariposa lily
• → Portuguese: mariposa
• → Tagalog: mariposa

See also

• oruga f (“caterpillar”)
• polilla f (“moth”)

Further reading

• “mariposa”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Tagalog

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish mariposa (“butterfly”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /maɾiˈposa/ [mɐ.ɾɪˈpoː.sɐ]
• Rhymes: -osa
• Syllabification: ma‧ri‧po‧sa

Noun

mariposa (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜇᜒᜉᜓᜐ)

1. species of moths (Attacus spp.)
2. (by extension) any big butterfly

   Synonym: paruparo

3. bowtie

   Synonyms: buklod-kurbata, kurbatang paruparo

4. moth orchid

Further reading

• “mariposa”, in KWF Diksiyonaryo ng Wikang Filipino, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2025
• “mariposa”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018