The fairy tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is probably one of the most famous tales in the world: everyone knows it, young and old. The plot, captivating with the story of the beautiful Snow White who is put to sleep by the poisoned apple, is enriched by the presence of the seven dwarfs who give the tale a cheerful and colorful tone. This feeling is also perceived from the curious names that the author gave them, a detail that often goes unnoticed. Children who love this tale often struggle to remember the names of all seven dwarfs and only recall the names of the most characteristic and prominent ones. An engaging way to help them remember all the names, in addition to being an interesting curiosity, is to explain to the children the meaning of each name. So, let’s discover the meanings of the names:
Mammolo
The meaning of the name Mammolo, at first glance, evokes the idea of a person very attached to the maternal figure, a sort of "mama’s boy" who cannot do without his mom. In the fairy tale, in fact, the dwarf seems to consider Snow White as a mother figure and, in the collective imagination, has always represented someone who can’t do anything without first consulting the girl’s opinion.
However, the name in the original language has a very different literal meaning: in fact, the English name is Bashful, which literally means shy, reserved. In the tale, Mammolo is indeed the dwarf who blushes more than all the others and gets embarrassed when he has to say something. Furthermore, he gestures just like people do when they want to sink into their timidity that makes them nervous and uncomfortable.
Brontolo
The name Brontolo is the Italian translation of the English Grumpy, which literally means surly and grumpy. The name perfectly reflects the personality of this character. In the tale, he is depicted as someone who always complains and is never satisfied: Brontolo responds poorly, is touchy, and never smiles. However, behind this tough exterior, glimpses of his sweet side and willingness can be noticed at certain points in the fairy tale, especially towards Snow White.
Eolo
Although the name Eolo seemingly has references related to nature, particularly to the wind, this is not the case. In fact, the meaning of his name, in English Sneezy, is sneeze.
And not by chance, Eolo’s main characteristic is a powerful sneeze due to an allergy that he cannot contain: when he sneezes (which he does often), he can sweep away everything around him.
Dotto
The name Dotto comes from the translation of the English term Doc, a diminutive of doctor, and has always represented a wise figure who manages to bring the group together and always finds a solution. However, the name wasn’t given because in the tale Dotto is the wisest of all, but rather because he presents himself as the one who knows more than the others. In any case, the fact that he wears glasses and is the biggest dwarf (and therefore has some experience) has made him an important reference point for the other dwarfs. Indeed, he often stands with his arms crossed, and everyone hangs on his words when he speaks, awaiting his decisions.
Gongolo
Gongolo is the translation of the English term Happy, which means cheerful, good-humored, and indeed in the fairy tale, the dwarf is always happy, cheerful, and brings smiles and energy to everyone he meets. Chubby and round, Gongolo is a very positive character: he spreads serenity and fun around him and is always ready to celebrate.
Cucciolo
Cucciolo is the smallest dwarf of all, and his original name, which is Dopey, literally means sleepyhead. This literal meaning attributed to his character is not very much aligned with his behavior: Cucciolo is actually a lively character who causes restlessness due to the fact that he cannot speak and gets into a lot of trouble. Fortunately, the other dwarfs are always there to help him resolve things in the best way possible. The dwarf is thus protected by everyone, and since he
