A merman is a mythical male sea creature with the head and upper body of a human and the tail of a fish instead of legs. Mermen are the male counterparts of mermaids, and together they're called merfolk or merpeople.

These legendary beings appear in folklore and stories from cultures around the world, from ancient Greek tales of the sea god Triton to sailors' legends about mysterious ocean dwellers. In most stories, merfolk live in underwater kingdoms, far beneath the waves where humans rarely venture.

While mermaids have become more famous in modern stories and movies, mermen appear in many of the same myths and legends. Some stories portray them as helpful guides who might rescue drowning sailors, while others describe them as dangerous creatures who lure ships to their doom.

Like mermaids, mermen don't actually exist. They're imaginary creatures that have fascinated people for thousands of years, perhaps inspired by sailors who spent months at sea and glimpsed unusual marine animals like manatees or seals from a distance.