In Hans Christian Andersen’s original fairy tale “The Little Mermaid,” the mermaid must give up her voice to receive human legs.
The sea witch cuts out the mermaid’s tongue, making her unable to speak. In exchange, the mermaid receives a potion that transforms her tail into legs, but walking causes her intense pain. The original story is darker and more tragic than Disney’s adaptations.
Disney’s 1989 animated film keeps the central bargain but changes several details. Ariel’s voice is magically stored in a shell-like object by Ursula, and the bargain becomes part of a comic adventure involving Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle. In Andersen’s tale, the mermaid is unnamed and the conclusion does not match Disney’s happy ending.
This distinction matters because “The Little Mermaid” can refer to the 1837 literary tale or one of Disney’s films. The loss of the voice is common to both versions, while the characters, tone, and outcome differ substantially.