is not usually associated with deities in particular. Yet the etymology of the noun nýmphe remains uncertain. The Doric and Aeolic (Homeric) form is nýmpha ??u??.

Modern usage more often applies to young women, contrasting with parthenos ???????? "a virgin (of any age)", and generically as kore (???? < ?????) "maiden, girl". The term is sometimes used by women to address each other and remains the regular Modern Greek term for "bride".