Mermaids are mythological creatures that are usually part human and part fish. Mermaids have been around for a long time and are a part of many legends and stories. Some people believe they are real, while others think they are just fantasy.
Mermaids are famous for their singing voices, which are said to be very enchanting. They can swim underwater, they come to the surface to breathe air.
In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating world of mermaids and learn all about their history, appearances in popular culture, and more! Learn all about mermaids with these mermaid facts for kids.
The word mermaid comes from two words: the old English word mere, meaning sea, and the word maid, meaning women. When you combine the two words, it becomes the word mermaid. The word mermaid means sea woman.
Mermaids are not to be confused with sirens. Sirens are mythological creatures: part human, part fish, and part bird.
Legends and Folktales
Legends and folktales are stories that have been passed down from one generation to another. A mermaid is a mythical creature in a legend or folktale. A mythological creature is a creature from a legend, folktale, or fairytale in which the person is part human, and part animal or another type of creature—a mermaid is a creature that is part female and part fish.
A male mermaid is called a merman.
Mermaid Appearance
The top part of a mermaid’s body resembles a human woman, and the lower part of her body (the waist down) is a fish. Mermaids do not have legs.
Mermaids are beautiful. They have long hair that can be blonde, red, black, or brown. Their long beautiful hair flows down to their waist and shines in the water.
A mermaid’s tail comes in all different colors and shapes. Some mermaids have blue tails, others are green or pink. Some tails are covered in scales that shimmer in the sunlight, while others have patterns like stripes or polka dots.
In many stories, books, and movies, mermaids have great singing voices and can play instruments such as the harp.
Some believe that mermaids have an angelic look and are angels of the sea.
In some stories, mermaids are called ugly witches of the sea.
Mermaid Characteristics
In many stories, books, and movies, mermaids have great singing voices and can play instruments such as the harp.
A mermaid’s voice sounds like an angel’s. Their voices hypnotize sailors at sea. Legends say that their voice and beauty have caused sailors to steer the boats off course, causing them to crash or go off cliffs.
Some believe that mermaids can predict the future.
Mermaids have been sited sitting on large rocks out at sea.
Mermaids can transform themselves from mermaids to full humans with legs.
It is believed that mermaids cannot breathe underwater and that they must come up to the surface for air. They are known to be able to hold their breath for long periods.
Mermaids are said to be friends with dolphins. People have said they have spotted mermaids jumping out of the water with dolphins.
Mermaid Habitat
Mermaids live in grottos under the sea. A grotto is a cave or a structure like a cave. A mermaid’s grotto is made of colored coral, sea glass, and plants.
Mermaids love their grottos. They take pride in keeping them nice and clean.
Mermaids like decorating their grotto with treasures they find under the sea. These treasures include precious gems such as diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and amethysts. They decorate their grottos with items, including forks, brushes, spoons, and bottles.
Mermaids live in many places around the world.
A mermaid can live in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Southern Ocean. They can also be found in seas such as the Caribbean, Arabian, Medertarrian, South China, the Sea of Japan, and the Irish Sea. They also can live in the Gulf of Mexico.
Mermaid Diet
Mermaids eat sea plants, small fish, clams, and oysters.
Legends of Mermaids
Many cultures worldwide have stories or legends of mermaids or human-like sea creatures. In some of those stories, mermaids are portrayed as beautiful sea creatures; in others, mermaids are mischievous.
One of the oldest mermaid stories comes from 1000 BC Assyria. In the story, a beautiful goddess named Atargatis fell in love with a shepherd. She was so sad when she accidentally killed him that she jumped into a lake to become a fish.
The gods of the water felt she was too beautiful to become a whole fish, so the top half of her body stayed human, and the bottom part of her became a fish, and she became a mermaid.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Disney’s The Little Mermaid is one of the most famous movies about mermaids. In this movie, Ariel falls in love with a human and meets the sea witch Ursula, who offers to help her by trading her voice for legs. It is an interpretation of the Danish folktale of the Little Mermaid.
The Mystery of Melusine
In the French Tale of The Mystery of Melusine, a French count married a beautiful woman that appeared by a fountain. When they married, she requested that a castle be built, and every Saturday, she would go to the castle, where she would spend the day alone, not to be bothered.
She told her husband that if he were to intrude on her privacy on Saturday, they would be separated forever. He listened and never bothered her.
The couple had many sons that looked strange and had deformities. The children grew up to get great men.
Years passed, and the count’s brother told him that people discussed what Melusine did on Saturdays. He told him to spy on her. The count watched her one Saturday and found her splashing around with a large fish tale in the bathtub.
He never told Melusine that he had seen her. Then tragedy struck, and one of his ones killed another. The count blamed Melusine and felt her sons were dead because he knew her secret.
Melusine told the count that now that he knew her secret, she must leave forever. She was never to be seen again.
Folktales about Mermaids
There are mermaid stories for almost every culture.
Alaskan The Legend of Aymee and the Mermaid
Brazil Iara
North American Indian Menana of the Waterfall
Greek The Sea Nymph and the Cyclops
Irish The Enchanted Cap
Ukrainian Nastasia of the Sea
Nigerian The Fish Husband
Japanese The Serpent and the Sea Queen
English The Mermaid’s Revenge
Chinese The Princess of the Tung Lake
German The Mermaid in the Millpond
Danish The Little Mermaid
New Zealand Pania of the Reef
Top 10 Mermaid Facts for Kids
- Mermaids are part human and part fish.
- Mermaids need to come to the surface to breathe.
- They are friends with dolphins.
- Mermaids are mythical creatures.
- They have long hair.
- Mermaids live in grottos under the sea.
- They have beautiful voices.
- There are many legends about mermaids.
- Sailors blamed mermaids for going off course or crashing.
- Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a movie about a mermaid.
Mermaid Coloring Pages
Free printable mermaid coloring pages for kids
