Meaning
fairy (mythical creature)
In a sentence
Da piccola volevo essere una fata buona.
When I was little, I wanted to be a good fairy.
Hai visto la fata nel cartone ieri sera?
Did you see the fairy in the cartoon last night?
La fata non ha aiutato il bambino.
The fairy didn't help the child.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| fata | feminine · singular |
| fate | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Usually feminine: la fata, le fate. The masculine counterpart is typically mago or folletto, not *fato*.
- In fairy-tale contexts, fata is standard; folletto suggests a goblin/elf-like being, often smaller or mischievous.
- Common in children's stories and fantasy. In everyday speech, calling someone una fata sounds poetic, affectionate, or ironic.