Goblin vs. Troll — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 29, 2023
"Goblin" refers to a small, mischievous creature in folklore; "Troll" denotes a larger, often malevolent mythical being.
Difference Between Goblin and Troll
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Goblin" is a term used in various cultures' mythologies to describe a small, often malicious being. They are typically considered to be mischievous and tricky, often causing problems for humans. On the other hand, "Troll" is a creature known in Nordic and Scandinavian folklore as a larger, brutish being, often living under bridges or in caves.
In many stories, "Goblins" are depicted as tiny, cunning creatures that might steal items or play tricks. They are frequently driven by their desires and are not always malevolent. "Trolls," conversely, are often portrayed as dumb, slow-moving creatures who can be a real threat to humans, often demanding tolls or capturing passersby.
"Goblins" can be seen in various modern media, from literature to films, as creatures often acting in groups, using their numbers to achieve their goals. "Trolls," in these same media, are sometimes seen as solitary figures, using their size and strength to intimidate.
A notable difference between the two is their typical habitats. While "Goblins" can be found in various settings, from forests to mountains, they are often associated with underground lairs or hidden villages. "Trolls" are more associated with natural landscapes like mountains, forests, and especially beneath bridges.
Comparison Chart
Size & Appearance
Typically small, humanoid.
Larger, often more brutish in appearance.
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Behavior
Mischievous, cunning.
Slow, malevolent, intimidating.
Habitat
Underground lairs, forests, villages.
Bridges, mountains, caves.
Origin
Found in various mythologies globally.
Commonly in Nordic & Scandinavian folklore.
Portrayal in Media
Often in groups, tricky.
Typically solitary, using strength to intimidate.
Compare with Definitions
Goblin
A creature known to be cunning and sly.
The goblin outsmarted the hero with its wit.
Troll
An entity often depicted as slow-moving but malevolent.
The troll slowly approached, causing panic among the villagers.
Goblin
A tiny supernatural being, sometimes associated with greed.
The treasure was guarded by a greedy goblin.
Troll
A figure associated with bridges or caves in folklore.
Legend said a troll resided beneath the ancient bridge.
Goblin
A trickster figure in folklore, often causing mischief.
A goblin played pranks on the unsuspecting travelers.
Troll
A troll is a being in Scandinavian folklore, including Norse mythology. In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and are rarely helpful to human beings.
Goblin
A small, mischievous mythological creature.
The goblin snuck into the village at night.
Troll
(in folklore) an ugly creature depicted as either a giant or a dwarf.
Goblin
An impish, often malicious entity in tales.
The children were wary of goblins hiding in the woods.
Troll
A person who makes a deliberately offensive or provocative online post
One solution is to make a troll's postings invisible to the rest of community once they've been recognized
Goblin
A grotesque elfin creature of folklore, thought to work mischief or evil.
Troll
A line or bait used in trolling for fish.
Goblin
A goblin is a monstrous creature that appears in the folklore of multiple European cultures, first attested in stories from the Middle Ages. They are ascribed various and conflicting abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin.
Troll
Make a deliberately offensive or provocative online post with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them
If people are obviously trolling then I'll delete your posts and do my best to ban you
You folks taking this opportunity to troll me, you really need to reassess your values in your life
Goblin
One of various hostile supernatural creatures, now especially (fantasy literature) a malevolent and grotesque diminutive humanoid, often associated with orcs or trolls.
Troll
Carefully and systematically search an area for something
A group of companies trolling for partnership opportunities
I spent tonight trolling the Internet for expensive lighting gear
Goblin
An evil or mischievous spirit; a playful or malicious elf; a frightful phantom; a gnome.
To whom the goblin, full of wrath, replied.
Troll
Walk in a leisurely way; stroll
We all trolled into town
Goblin
(folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings
Troll
Sing (something) in a happy and carefree way
He trolled a note or two
Troll
To fish for by trailing a baited line from behind a slowly moving boat.
Troll
To fish in by trailing a baited line
Troll the lake for bass.
Troll
To trail (a baited line) in fishing.
Troll
To move around in (an area) or go to (different places) searching for something
"The players cautiously refrain from saying anything candid to the press trolling the clubhouse" (David Grann).
Troll
To examine or search through
Trolling the classifieds for a cheap car.
Troll
To sing in succession the parts of (a round, for example).
Troll
To sing heartily
Troll a carol.
Troll
To post inflammatory or irrelevant material on (an electronic forum) to provoke responses.
Troll
To fish by trailing a line, as from a moving boat.
Troll
To stroll along or wander
"As he was extremely early, he trolled past the community center" (David Bezmozgis).
Troll
To move around in an area or go to different places searching for something.
Troll
To examine or search through something
Trolling through old family photos looking for a picture of my aunt.
Troll
(Music) To sing heartily or gaily.
Troll
The act of trolling for fish.
Troll
A lure, such as a spoon or spinner, that is used for trolling.
Troll
(Music) A vocal composition in successive parts; a round.
Troll
A person who posts inflammatory or otherwise unwanted material on an electronic forum, especially anonymously.
Troll
The material so posted.
Troll
A supernatural creature of Scandinavian folklore, variously portrayed as a friendly or mischievous dwarf or as a giant, that lives in caves, in the hills, or under bridges.
Troll
(Derogatory) A person, especially an older gay man, considered to be unpleasant or ugly.
Troll
(fantasy) A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.
Troll
(slang) An ugly person of either sex, especially one seeking sexual experiences.
Troll
Optical ejections from the top of the electrically active core regions of thunderstorms that are red in color that seem to occur after tendrils of vigorous sprites extend downward toward the cloud tops.
Troll
An instance of trolling, especially, in fishing, the trailing of a baited line.
Troll
A person who posts or says inflammatory, insincere, digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages to provoke others on the Internet for their own personal amusement or to manipulate others' perception.
Keyboard warrior
Troll
The act of moving round; routine; repetition.
Troll
A song whose parts are sung in succession; a catch; a round.
Troll
(obsolete) A trolley.
Troll
(intransitive) To saunter.
Troll
(intransitive) To trundle, to roll from side to side.
Troll
To draw someone or something out, to entice, to lure as if with trailing bait.
Troll
To fish using a line and bait or lures trailed behind a boat similarly to trawling; to lure fish with bait.
Troll
(transitive) To angle for with a trolling line, or with a hook drawn along the surface of the water; hence, to allure.
Troll
(transitive) To fish in; to try to catch fish from.
Troll
To stroll about in order to find a sexual partner.
He spends most of his waking hours trolling on WIRE.
Troll
To post or make inflammatory or insincere statements so as to attempt to lure others into combative argument for purposes of personal entertainment or to manipulate others' perception, especially in an online community or discussion.
Troll
To move circularly; to roll; to turn.
Troll
To send about; to circulate, as a vessel in drinking.
Troll
To sing the parts of in succession, as of a round, a catch, and the like; also, to sing loudly, freely or in a carefree way.
Troll
A supernatural being, often represented as of diminutive size, but sometimes as a giant, and fabled to inhabit caves, hills, and like places; a witch.
Troll
The act of moving round; routine; repetition.
Troll
A song the parts of which are sung in succession; a catch; a round.
Thence the catch and troll, while "Laughter, holding both his sides," sheds tears to song and ballad pathetic on the woes of married life.
Troll
A trolley.
Troll
To move circularly or volubly; to roll; to turn.
To dress and troll the tongue, and roll the eye.
Troll
To send about; to circulate, as a vessel in drinking.
Then doth she troll to the bowl.
Troll the brown bowl.
Troll
To sing the parts of in succession, as of a round, a catch, and the like; also, to sing loudly or freely.
Will you troll the catch ?
His sonnets charmed the attentive crowd,By wide-mouthed mortaltrolled aloud.
Troll
To angle for with a trolling line, or with a book drawn along the surface of the water; hence, to allure.
Troll
To fish in; to seek to catch fish from.
With patient angle trolls the finny deep.
Troll
To roll; to run about; to move around; as, to troll in a coach and six.
Troll
To move rapidly; to wag.
Troll
To take part in trolling a song.
Troll
To fish with a rod whose line runs on a reel; also, to fish by drawing the hook through the water.
Their young men . . . trolled along the brooks that abounded in fish.
Troll
(Scandanavian folklore) a supernatural creature (either a dwarf or a giant) that is supposed to live in caves or in the mountains
Troll
A partsong in which voices follow each other; one voice starts and others join in one after another until all are singing different parts of the song at the same time;
They enjoyed singing rounds
Troll
A fisherman's lure that is used in trolling;
He used a spinner as his troll
Troll
Angling by drawing a baited line through the water
Troll
Circulate, move around
Troll
Cause to move round and round;
The child trolled her hoop
Troll
Sing the parts of (a round) in succession
Troll
Angle with a hook and line drawn through the water
Troll
Sing loudly and without inhibition
Troll
Praise or celebrate in song;
All tongues shall troll you
Troll
Speak or recite rapidly or in a rolling voice
Troll
A large, often brutish creature from Nordic myths.
The troll guarded the bridge, stopping all who tried to cross.
Troll
A mythical being known for its strength and intimidation.
The village feared the troll that lived in the nearby mountains.
Troll
A creature in tales demanding tolls or capturing people.
Travelers carried extra coins to appease any trolls they might encounter.
Common Curiosities
Are goblins always evil?
Not always; goblins can be mischievous or tricky, but not always malevolent.
Are trolls intelligent in folklore?
Trolls are often depicted as less intelligent than humans but are cunning in their own way.
Can goblins be friendly?
In some stories, goblins can be neutral or even friendly, though often still mischievous.
How are goblins and trolls different in modern media?
Modern media often portrays goblins as cunning tricksters and trolls as brutish giants.
Are goblins magical creatures?
In many stories, goblins possess magical abilities or artifacts.
Are trolls always larger than humans?
In most folklore, trolls are depicted as larger and more brutish than humans.
Do goblins and trolls have a common origin?
While both appear in various mythologies, they have distinct origins, with trolls primarily in Nordic tales.
Are goblins and trolls humanoid?
Generally, both are depicted as humanoid, though their size and features vary.
What do trolls typically eat?
In some tales, trolls eat livestock, fish, or even humans.
Where do goblins typically live?
Goblins are often associated with underground lairs, forests, or hidden villages.
Are goblins and trolls popular in today's culture?
Yes, both have been adapted and appear in various forms in modern media, from books to films.
Are trolls and goblins enemies?
While tales vary, there's no consistent narrative of them being natural enemies.
How can one defeat a troll?
Folklore offers various methods, from outsmarting them to using sunlight or fire.
Can trolls speak?
In many tales, trolls can speak, though often in a rudimentary or gruff manner.
How old are the tales of goblins and trolls?
Both creatures have origins in ancient mythologies, with tales spanning centuries.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
