Duende

Duendecitos by Francisco Goya, 1799

A duende is a humanoid figure of folklore, with variations from Iberian, Ibero American, and Latin American cultures, comparable to dwarves, gnomes, or leprechauns. In Spanish duende originated as a contraction of the phrase dueñ(o) de casa, effectively "master of the house", or perhaps derived from some similar mythical being of the Visigoth or Swabian culture given its comparable looks with the “Tomte” of the Swedish language conceptualized as a mischievous spirit inhabiting a dwelling.[1]

Model of a duende
  1. ^ Joan Corominas, 'Breve diccionario etimológico de la lengua', "Duende" (Madrid: Editorial Gredos, 1980).