A duende is a fairy or goblin like mythological character. While its nature varies throughout Mexico and America, in many cases its closest equivalents known in the Anglophone world are the Irish leprechaun and the Scottish brownie or the Swedish Tomte. As Federico García Lorca uses the term, it seems closer to fairy as a realm of being. Duendes may also have some traits similar to goblins and kobolds.

The word is often considered to be Spanish equivalent of the English word, “sprite” or the Japanese word, yokai and is used as an umbrella term for any fairy-like being such as goblins, pixies and elves.