ariel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Literary for the spirit name; Informal/Everyday for the given name and brand.
Quick answer
What does “ariel” mean?
A proper noun, most commonly referring to a specific spirit/sprite from Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest', the Little Mermaid character from Disney, or used as a given name.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun, most commonly referring to a specific spirit/sprite from Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest', the Little Mermaid character from Disney, or used as a given name.
1. A given name (unisex, historically male but now predominantly female in many contexts). 2. A brand name for a detergent/liquid soap. 3. In zoology, a subspecies of gazelle (Gazella gazella arabica). 4. A literary term for a spirit of the air (from Shakespeare).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The brand Ariel is a well-known laundry detergent in the UK, less common in the US where it's Tide/Persil. As a given name, it is recognized in both cultures but with the Disney association more dominant in the US.
Connotations
UK: Strong association with the laundry brand. US: Strong primary association with the Disney mermaid character.
Frequency
As a given name, more frequent in Israel and Spanish-speaking countries. Relatively low-frequency proper noun in general English corpora.
Grammar
How to Use “ariel” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] + Verb (e.g., Ariel sings, Ariel appears)The + [Proper Noun] + of + Noun Phrase (e.g., the Ariel of Shakespeare)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ariel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referring to the Procter & Gamble laundry detergent brand.
Academic
In literary studies discussing Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'.
Everyday
As a person's name or in reference to the Disney character.
Technical
In zoology: 'Gazella gazella arabica, known as the Ariel gazelle'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ariel”
- Using lowercase ('ariel') when referring to the name/spirit.
- Assuming it's always a female name (historical/literary use is male).
- Confusing with 'aerial' (adjective meaning from the air).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, it is a masculine name (from Hebrew, meaning 'Lion of God') and the Shakespearean spirit is male. However, due to Disney's 'The Little Mermaid', it is now predominantly perceived as a female name in many English-speaking contexts.
In British English, it's typically /ˈɛːrɪəl/ (AIR-ee-uhl). In American English, it's often /ˈɛriəl/ (AIR-ee-uhl), with a slightly flatter 'r' sound.
There is no semantic connection. The detergent brand name was chosen for its positive, ethereal connotations, unrelated to its literary meaning.
Very rarely. In extremely archaic or poetic use, it can be uncapitalised to mean a spirit of the air, but this is obsolete. In modern English, it is exclusively a proper noun.
A proper noun, most commonly referring to a specific spirit/sprite from Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest', the Little Mermaid character from Disney, or used as a given name.
Ariel is usually formal/literary for the spirit name; informal/everyday for the given name and brand. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the word; it is a proper noun.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'AIRy El'f - Ariel is an airy spirit in Shakespeare.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPIRIT/FANTASY BEING IS ARIEL (for the literary sense); FEMININE/REBELLIOUS YOUTH IS ARIEL (for the Disney sense).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common referent for the word 'Ariel'?