leprechaun

/ˈleprəkɔːn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈleprəkɔːn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈle-prə-ˌkän -ˌkȯn/ (ame, mw)

leprechaun — 名詞

  • leprechaunsingular
  • leprechaunsplural

1. a small, mischievous male fairy from old Irish stories, often shown as an old ma

1.名詞B2
釋義

矮精靈

愛爾蘭傳說中好惡作劇的小精靈

a small, mischievous male fairy from old Irish stories, often shown as an old man with a beard who can reveal where treasure is hidden if someone catches him

例句

An old Irish story says a leprechaun hides a pot of gold at the rainbow's end.

一則古老的愛爾蘭故事說，矮精靈把一桶金子藏在彩虹的盡頭。

collocation: pot of gold / rainbow's end

Amara told her brother a leprechaun might live in the hollow tree behind their garden.

Amara 告訴弟弟，他們家後面的空心樹裡可能住著一個矮精靈。

believe/think + that-clause for speculation about folklore

同義詞
  • elf

    A magical being from Germanic or Norse folklore, often young and pointed-eared, while leprechauns are specifically Irish, old, and bearded.

  • fairy

    A broad term covering any small magical creature in European folklore; leprechauns are a specific type of Irish fairy with a trickster personality.

  • goblin

    A mischievous or evil creature in folklore, usually uglier and more malicious than a leprechaun, who is a trickster but not truly harmful.

用法筆記

Unlike general terms such as 'fairy' or 'elf', leprechaun refers specifically to a figure from Irish folklore who is always portrayed as male and elderly. The word appears most often in the context of St. Patrick's Day, Irish cultural references, children's stories, and tourism in Ireland.

常見錯誤

❌I saw a leprechaun in a Japanese anime.
✅I saw a fairy-like character in a Japanese anime.
💡Leprechauns belong specifically to Irish folklore; the term should not be used for magical beings from other cultural traditions.
❌The children dressed up as leaprachans for the parade.
✅The children dressed up as leprechauns for the parade.
💡The correct spelling is l-e-p-r-e-c-h-a-u-n, not 'leaprachan'.