Phrase guide

have butterflies in one's stomach

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To experience a certain “fluttery” physical sensation in one's stomach, associated with nervousness, uncertainty, anxiety, apprehension, or excitement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Kevin had butterflies in his stomach every time he saw Chrissy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: tenir papallones a la panxa — Translations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 忐忑不安 (tǎntèbù'ān) — Translations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 七上八下 (qīshàngbāxià) — Translations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 小鹿亂撞 /小鹿乱撞 (lovestruck) — Translations
  • Danish: have sommerfugle i maven — Translations
  • Dutch: vlinders in de buik hebben — Translations
  • Finnish: olla perhosia vatsassa — Translations
  • French: avoir des papillons dans le ventre — Translations
  • German: Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben — Translations
  • German: Hummeln im Hintern haben — Translations
  • Hebrew: פרפרים בבטן — Translations
  • Hungarian: a torkában dobog a szíve — Translations
  • Hungarian: ideges — Translations
  • Hungarian: izgul — Translations
  • Hungarian: aggódik — Translations
  • Italian: avere le farfalle nello stomaco — Translations
  • Japanese: 胃がきりきりする (i ga kiri-kiri suru) — Translations
  • Māori: puku āmaimai — Translations
  • Norwegian: ha sommerfugler i magen — Translations
  • Polish: mieć motylki w brzuchu — Translations
  • Portuguese: ter frio na barriga — Translations
  • Portuguese: estar com frio na barriga — Translations
  • Russian: име́ть мандра́ж (imétʹ mandráž) — Translations
  • Spanish: tener mariposas en el estómago — Translations
  • Swedish: ha fjärilar i magen — Translations
  • Tagalog: kilig — Translations
  • Turkish: diken üstünde oturmak — Translations
  • Ukrainian: відчувати хвилювання (vidčuvaty xvyljuvannja) — Translations