How Do You Spell THUMBELINA?

Pronunciation: [θˌʌmbɪlˈiːnə] (IPA)

The word "Thumbelina" is often spelled with a "b" rather than a "v", leading some to question the correct spelling. However, this is due to its origin in the Danish fairytale "Tommelise", where the character's name is spelled with a "b". The correct pronunciation of "Thumbelina" is /ˌθʌmbəˈliːnə/, with an "m" sound rather than a "v" sound before the "e". This reflects the way the Danish "b" is pronounced, which is similar to an English "m".

THUMBELINA Meaning and Definition

1. Thumbelina is a noun that refers to a tiny or miniature person, often used in reference to fictional characters or in a figurative sense. The term is derived from the fairy tale character named Thumbelina, who is a petite girl born from a flower.

   In the context of literature, Thumbelina is a popular protagonist in the eponymous fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. She is portrayed as a miniature girl, about the size of a thumb, and embarks on a series of adventures in a world much larger than her own. This character has become a symbol of innocence, vulnerability, and resilience in children's literature.

   In a broader sense, the term thumbelina can also be used metaphorically to describe an individual or an object that is exceptionally small or diminutive. It conveys the idea of something or someone that is delicate, tiny, or easily overlooked due to their size. This term has often been employed to depict individuals who possess petite features or who are exceptionally short in stature. Additionally, thumbelina can be used to describe objects or animals that are unusually small or compact, emphasizing their size in comparison to others of their kind.

   Overall, thumbelina is a noun that predominantly denotes a small or miniature person, whether literal or symbolic, and has been widely adopted in literature and conversation to convey the concept of tiny or delicate individuals or objects.

Common Misspellings for THUMBELINA

• rhumbelina
• fhumbelina
• ghumbelina
• yhumbelina
• 6humbelina
• 5humbelina
• tgumbelina
• tbumbelina
• tnumbelina
• tjumbelina
• tuumbelina
• tyumbelina
• thymbelina
• thhmbelina
• thjmbelina
• thimbelina
• th8mbelina
• th7mbelina
• thunbelina
• thukbelina

Etymology of THUMBELINA

The word "Thumbelina" is derived from the name of the main character in a famous fairy tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The fairy tale, published in 1835, tells the story of a tiny girl named Thumbelina who is no bigger than a thumb. Andersen created her name by combining the word "thumb" with the diminutive suffix "-lina". Thus, the name Thumbelina signifies a small creature resembling the size of a thumb.