fairy
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fairy
A female mythical being with magical powers, often portrayed as beautiful and kind, who can grant wishes.
Im Märchen erscheint eine gute Fee und hilft der Prinzessin.
In the fairy tale, a good fairy appears and helps the princess.
fairy
A colloquial, affectionate term for a very helpful and friendly female person who often works behind the scenes.
Unsere Sekretärin ist die gute Fee des Büros, sie kümmert sich um alles.
Our secretary is the good fairy of the office; she takes care of everything.
The word 'Fee' (fairy) originally comes from fairy tales and legends. In everyday language, however, it is also used affectionately and colloquially for a very helpful person.
In vielen Geschichten erfüllt eine gute Fee drei Wünsche.
In many stories, a good fairy grants three wishes.
The word 'Fee' (fairy) is often part of compound nouns that describe the fairy's special task. Very well-known examples are the 'Wunschfee' (wish fairy) or the 'Zahnfee' (tooth fairy).
Viele Kinder legen ihren ausgefallenen Milchzahn für die Zahnfee unter das Kissen.
Many children put their fallen-out baby tooth under the pillow for the tooth fairy.
The expression 'die gute Fee sein' (to be the good fairy) is often used for a person who does a lot of good behind the scenes. It is usually followed by a genitive or 'von' construction that names the place or area.
Ohne die gute Fee in der Verwaltung würde hier gar nichts funktionieren.
Without the good fairy in administration, nothing here would function at all.
elf
Both words can refer to a small female mythical creature with magical powers. A „Fee“ (fairy) is often portrayed as a benevolent figure who can grant wishes, while an „Elfe“ (elf) tends to appear delicate, human-like, and connected with nature. However, the portrayals overlap depending on the story.
Die Fee erfüllte dem Mädchen in der Geschichte drei Wünsche.
In the story, the fairy granted the girl three wishes.
Die zarte Elfe lebte in einer Blume mitten im Wald.
The delicate elf lived inside a flower deep in the forest.
