nymph

A nymph is a female nature spirit in ancient Greek and Roman mythology, typically linked to a particular natural feature, landscape, or locality. Nymphs are usually described as young, beautiful, and divine or semi-divine beings who inhabit forests, mountains, rivers, springs, seas, and groves. The term originates from the Greek nymphe, meaning a young woman or bride, and the concept encompasses a range of related figures rather than a single standardized deity.

Nymphs are traditionally categorized by their preferred environment. Naiads are freshwater nymphs associated with rivers, streams, and springs; dryads (or hamadryads) are tree and forest spirits; oreads (or orae) are mountain nymphs; and sea-nymphs include nereids and oceanids, daughters of Oceanus and Tethys. They are often depicted as attendants or companions of gods and heroes, and they may aid, hinder, or inspire mortals. While generally considered immortal or extremely long-lived, individual nymphs are frequently involved in mythic tales reflecting the values and tensions of human life, such as love, jealousy, or the desire for freedom.

Notable examples include Calypso, a sea-nymph who detained Odysseus in the Odyssey; Daphne, who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo; and Arethusa, a naiads associated with a sacred spring. In Roman myth, nymphs fulfill similar roles, and many Greek nymph myths were adapted with Latin names.

In modern usage, the term nymph also denotes an immature form of certain insects and other organisms that resemble the adult stage, reflecting the broader linguistic heritage rather than mythology.