# ugly duckling

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈʌɡ.liː ˌdʌk.lɪŋ/

## Definitions
1. A young person who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature.
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see ugly, duckling.

## Etymology
Calque of Danish grim ælling. From the fairy tale of a duckling, considered ugly, that matures into a magnificent swan.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ugly-duckling