ninfe

Ninfe is the Italian plural form of ninfa, referring to mythological nymphs in Greco-Roman tradition. In Italian usage, ninfe are female nature spirits associated with specific natural features—rivers and springs (naiads), trees (dryads), mountains, seas—and are often depicted as graceful young women who inhabit places such as woods, grottoes, or waters. The term derives from the Latin nympha, itself from the Greek nymphē, and in Italian tradition it covers a broad category of mythic beings rather than a single fixed class.

In classical mythology, ninfe are typically considered minor deities or immortal beings who personify aspects of nature. They may serve as guardians of a place, companions to gods or heroes, or active participants in myth, offering aid or presenting challenges to mortals.

As a literary and artistic motif, ninfe have figured prominently in Italian and broader European culture. They appear in poetry, painting, and opera as symbols of beauty, fertility, and the healing or transformative powers of nature. In modern usage, the term ninfe remains common in discussions of classical myth and in fantasy literature and media, where nymph-like characters are widespread.

See also: Nymph, Naiad, Dryad, Greek myth, Italian folklore.