[[quoteright:260:[[Franchise/TheLittleMermaid https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ariel_jewelled_seashells.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:260:Our Mermaids Are {{Pimped|OutDress}} [[EverythingsBetterWithSparkles Out]].]]

->''"Who would be\\
A mermaid fair,\\
Singing alone,\\
Combing her hair\\
Under the sea,\\
In a golden curl\\
With a comb of pearl,\\
On a throne?"''
-->-- "The Mermaid" by '''Creator/AlfredLordTennyson'''

Tropes about merfolk, the legendary half fish, half human people that live in the deep. Compare ElfTropes and FairyTropes.
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!!Look at these tropes, aren't they neat?
[[index]]
[floatboxright:
'''Main Trope:'''
* OurMermaidsAreDifferent

'''Related Index:'''
* MermaidMedia
]
* AlchemicElementals[softreturn]Merfolk and similar beings are sometimes portrayed as water elementals.
* AmazingTechnicolorPopulation[softreturn]Merfolk occasionally possess abnormal skin colors, normally blue or green.
* ApparentlyHumanMerfolk[softreturn]People who look human, but who can breathe and live underwater.
* AwesomeUnderwaterWorld[softreturn]When the undersea realm is depicted as ''awesome''.
* BathtubMermaid[softreturn]Merfolk and other aquatic creatures kept in stationary tanks and other containers.
* CaptainFishman[softreturn]Merfolk superheroes.
* {{Cthulhumanoid}}[softreturn]Some merfolk have cephalopod characteristics rather than fishlike ones.
* EarFins[softreturn] Fins instead of ears, common for merfolk and other aquatic characters
* FishPeople[softreturn]People with a humanoid shape but fishy features.
* InhumanlyBeautifulRace[softreturn]Merfolk, mermaids in particular, are often very beautiful beyond human standards.
* LordOfTheOcean[softreturn]Gods of the ocean are often associated with mermaids.
* MermaidArcEmergence[softreturn]When mermaids surface, it is often with splendor.
* MermaidInAWheelchair[softreturn]Mermaids on land often use wheelchairs to get around.
* MermaidProblem[softreturn]How merfolk sexual biology would interact with humans.
* MermaidingSwimsuit[softreturn]Humans cosplaying as mermaids for show or for swimming.
* MermanityEnsues[softreturn]Humans transform into mermaids, if not fish or just being able to breath underwater.
* MobileFishbowl[softreturn]Merfolk who can't breathe air bring water with them to interact with land-dwellers.
* OurHippocampsAreDifferent[softreturn]Horses with mermaid-like fish tails, and potentially other piscine traits.
* OurMermaidsAreDifferent[softreturn]The varied kinds of merfolk.
* PointyEars[softreturn]Merfolk occasionally possess these.
* ProngsOfPoseidon[softreturn]Merfolk often wield tridents as their main weapon.
* SeashellBra[softreturn]Two seashells worn to cover the breasts.
* SelkiesAndWereseals[softreturn]Human-seal shapeshifters.
* SharkMan[softreturn]Sharks with a humanoid shape, or vice versa.
* SirensAreMermaids[softreturn]The Sirens of mythology portrayed as mermaids.
* SuperNotDrowningSkills[softreturn]Merfolk can life underwater indefinitely, or at least for an extended time.
* TailfinWalking[softreturn]Merfolk walking upright on their tailfins.
* TokenAquaticRace[softreturn]They're often merfolk.
* UnderwaterCity[softreturn]Merfolk often live in these.
* UnderwaterKiss[softreturn]Merfolk kissing either each other or a human while underwater.
* UnscaledMerfolk[softreturn]Merfolk that are aren't scaled fish below the waist.
* UnusualEars[softreturn]Merfolk sometimes have non-standard ears, commonly either elfin ears or fin-/gill-like ears.
* WaterIsWomanly[softreturn]Water associated with femininity.
[[/index]]
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