Signification
Feeling nervous excitement.
Contexte culturel
Greeks often use 'stomach' metaphors for deep feelings. While 'butterflies' is modern, the idea that the stomach is the center of emotion is very old in Greek thought. In Cyprus, the phrase is equally common and used in the same romantic contexts, often appearing in local TV series and pop music. The phrase is a 'globalism'. Its use in Greek is a sign of how English-language media has influenced modern Greek expressions of love.
Use with 'νιώθω'
If you want to sound a bit more emotional, use 'νιώθω' (I feel) instead of 'έχω' (I have).
Not for doctors
Don't use this in a medical context. Doctors need to know if you have 'πόνο' (pain), not 'πεταλούδες'.
Signification
Feeling nervous excitement.
Use with 'νιώθω'
If you want to sound a bit more emotional, use 'νιώθω' (I feel) instead of 'έχω' (I have).
Not for doctors
Don't use this in a medical context. Doctors need to know if you have 'πόνο' (pain), not 'πεταλούδες'.
Add 'χιλιάδες'
To emphasize how excited you are, say 'Έχω χιλιάδες πεταλούδες' (I have thousands of butterflies).
Teste-toi
Συμπληρώστε το κενό με τη σωστή λέξη.
Όταν είδα την Άννα, ένιωσα ________ στο στομάχι.
The idiom specifically uses 'butterflies' (πεταλούδες).
Ποια πρόταση είναι σωστή;
Πώς λέμε ότι είμαστε αγχωμένοι και ενθουσιασμένοι;
We use the verb 'έχω' (have) and the location 'στομάχι' (stomach).
Συμπληρώστε το διάλογο.
Α: Γιατί τρέμουν τα χέρια σου; Β: Γιατί ____________________.
Shaking hands is a physical sign of the 'butterflies' feeling.
Σε ποια περίπτωση χρησιμοποιούμε τη φράση;
Πότε θα έλεγες 'Έχω πεταλούδες στο στομάχι';
The phrase is used for romantic excitement.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesΌταν είδα την Άννα, ένιωσα ________ στο στομάχι.
The idiom specifically uses 'butterflies' (πεταλούδες).
Πώς λέμε ότι είμαστε αγχωμένοι και ενθουσιασμένοι;
We use the verb 'έχω' (have) and the location 'στομάχι' (stomach).
Α: Γιατί τρέμουν τα χέρια σου; Β: Γιατί ____________________.
Shaking hands is a physical sign of the 'butterflies' feeling.
Πότε θα έλεγες 'Έχω πεταλούδες στο στομάχι';
The phrase is used for romantic excitement.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is extremely common, especially among younger people and in romantic contexts.
Absolutely. It is gender-neutral and used by everyone to describe excitement.
It is informal to neutral. You can use it with friends, but maybe not in a formal legal document.
Not always. It can also mean you are nervous about a speech, an exam, or a big event.
The plural is 'πεταλούδες'. In this idiom, we always use the plural.
In Greek, we usually say 'fluttering in my heart' (φτερούγισμα στην καρδιά) rather than butterflies.
It ends with an 'ι' (iota). Be careful not to use 'η' or 'υ'.
Younger people might just say 'έχω τρακ' or 'έχω φάει σκάλωμα', but 'πεταλούδες' is the most descriptive for romance.
Usually no. For a bad feeling, use 'κόμπος στο στομάχι' (knot in the stomach).
Yes, it is a loan translation that has been fully adopted into Greek.
Expressions liées
Έχω τρακ
similarTo have stage fright
Κόμπος στο στομάχι
similarA knot in the stomach
Φτερούγισμα στην καρδιά
synonymA fluttering in the heart
Μου κόπηκαν τα γόνατα
builds onMy knees gave out
