Real meanings for unreal beings

Monster slang: What do the names of these 12 mythical beings really mean?

Monsters, ghosts, and strange beasts have haunted stories for a very long time, but their names can be just as mysterious as the creatures themselves. Some are surprisingly literal, while others have traveled across languages, religions, and continents before reaching English. From a "knocking spirit" to a goblin hiding in the periodic table, here’s what the names of 12 famous mythical creatures really mean.

The word zombie has traveled almost as dramatically as the creature itself. English acquired it through Caribbean forms such as Haitian Creole zonbi, with deeper roots in African languages. Merriam-Webster compares it with Kimbundu nzúmbe, meaning "ghost."

The traditional Haitian concept also differs significantly from Hollywood's hordes of contagious undead. Zombies became associated with people supernaturally deprived of autonomy and restored to a form of life. The modern flesh-eating version is largely a product of later popular culture, which transformed both the creature and the image English speakers associate with its name.

The word wendigo comes from a family of related Algonquian words, including Ojibwe wiindigoo and Cree wīhtikōw. The Ojibwe People’s Dictionary describes wiindigoo as a winter cannibal monster associated with terrifying, insatiable hunger.

But its literal origin is surprisingly uncertain. The mysterious-sounding word fuels the image of a night monster from past times.

A banshee's famous cry sounds frightening enough, but her Irish name is much less sinister. Banshee comes from bean sí: bean means "woman," while sí refers to the supernatural beings traditionally associated with Ireland's ancient mounds.

That makes the name something like "woman of the fairy mound." And contrary to many movie versions, a banshee traditionally doesn't scream someone to death. Her mournful keening warns that a death is approaching, making her more of a supernatural messenger than an attacker.

Sometimes a monster's name tells you exactly what you're getting. Werewolf comes from Old English werwulf, combining wer, meaning "man," with wulf, meaning "wolf." In other words, the fearsome name basically means "man-wolf."

The interesting part is that wer was once an ordinary word for a male person before disappearing from everyday English. Meanwhile, the alternative lycanthrope reaches almost the same destination through Greek: lykos means "wolf," and anthrōpos means "human being."

Today, finding your doppelgänger might mean spotting somebody who looks uncannily like you. The German word is wonderfully straightforward: doppel means "double," while Gänger means "goer." English speakers began using doppelgänger during the 19th century.

Originally, however, this wasn't merely a word for two strangers who could pass for siblings. A doppelgänger could be an eerie supernatural counterpart of a living person. Over time, the ghostly implications faded, leaving us with a convenient, and much less alarming, word for a look-alike.

If a ghost spends the night knocking things around, German already has the perfect name for it. Poltergeist combines a verb meaning "to knock" or "make a racket" with Geist, meaning "spirit." Literally, it's essentially a "knocking spirit."

That explains why poltergeists differ from the stereotypical silent apparition floating down a hallway. Their calling card is physical commotion: bangs, mysterious noises, and moving objects.

Long before the golem became a legendary creature, its name appeared in the Hebrew Bible. In Psalm 139, the Hebrew golem refers to something unformed or unfinished, an intriguing origin for a being traditionally fashioned from lifeless material.

Jewish folklore eventually transformed the idea into an artificial humanlike figure, commonly created from clay and animated through sacred knowledge.

Here's a surprisingly gentle name for a decidedly ungentle monster. Chimera comes ultimately from Greek chimaira, meaning "she-goat." Yet the mythological Chimera was no ordinary farm animal: ancient accounts combined parts of a lion, goat, and serpent into one fire-breathing beast.

The hero Bellerophon eventually defeated it while riding Pegasus. Its bizarre mixture of incompatible parts proved linguistically durable. A chimera later came to mean an impossible fantasy, while modern biology uses the same word for an organism containing genetically distinct populations of cells.

The Minotaur's name is practically a miniature plot summary. Greek Minōtauros combines the name Minos with tauros, meaning "bull." The famous monster is therefore, quite literally, the "bull of Minos."

According to Greek mythology, King Minos had the creature confined inside the Labyrinth designed by Daedalus on Crete. Theseus eventually killed the Minotaur and found his way back with Ariadne's help.

Break apart hippogriff, and half the creature immediately appears. Its first element ultimately comes from Greek hippos, meaning "horse," joined to griffin.

Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto featured the hippogriff in Orlando Furioso, first published in 1516. He imagined the flying animal as the impossible offspring of a mare and a griffin. Modern fantasy fans may know the creature from Harry Potter, but hippogriffs had already been around for roughly five centuries.

Kobolds were mischievous spirits in German folklore, appearing around homes or underground. Another remarkable oddity is the fact that one of these creatures managed to sneak onto the periodic table.

The element cobalt takes its name from kobold. German miners used the term "supernatural" for troublesome ores that failed to produce the metals they expected and could contain dangerous arsenic compounds. In the 18th century, Swedish chemist Georg Brandt established cobalt as a distinct element.

The Kraken came into English from Scandinavian tradition, where stories described an enormous sea creature lurking beneath northern waters. English records the word by the mid-18th century, when European writers were spreading accounts of the supposedly gigantic beast.

Its name contains a neat grammatical surprise. Scandinavian kraken is related to krake, with the final -n functioning as a definite article, essentially "the krake." Later encounters with real giant squid offered a tantalizing possible explanation for some old sea-monster stories.

Stay on course

Never get lost again: 10 survival and navigation hacks

Image: Denise Jans

Who hasn’t lost their bearings, at least momentarily, during a hike through unfamiliar terrain? Whether in the wilderness or the urban jungle, even seasoned explorers can sometimes get turned around. With the right tips, though, you can confidently stay on course. Here we’ve gathered some of the most practical advice, from natural navigation techniques to modern tech tools, to ensure you avoid walking in circles on your next adventure. Stay calm, stay prepared, and enjoy the journey!

Image: Denise Jans

You can use the sun's position to easily determine your general direction. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and, in the Northern Hemisphere, travels slightly southward throughout the day.

Observing its position can give you a rough sense of cardinal directions. At midday, the sun is due south. You can also use a watch as an improvised compass: point the hour hand at the sun and halfway between that and 12 o'clock gives you south.

Image: Klemen Vrankar

Lost after dark? Let the night sky guide you! In the Northern Hemisphere, find Polaris (North Star) by locating the Big Dipper; the two stars at the end of its "bowl" point directly to Polaris.

In the Southern Hemisphere, use the Southern Cross constellation to locate the south. This method has been trusted by travelers for centuries, especially among sailors and desert nomads, when maps weren’t an option.

Image: Drew Walker

Always plan ahead. This advice goes beyond just avoiding getting lost —it can help you navigate and stay out of trouble in many situations. Always carry a physical map when traveling, especially in remote areas. Familiarize yourself with key landmarks and, if possible, mark your path as you go.

By plotting points and taking note of terrain features, you'll improve your chances of retracing your steps or finding alternative routes if needed. Digital maps are also great but remember that they can often fail without service, and you won’t be able to access them if your battery dies.

Image: Kalen Emsley

Learn to recognize your surroundings. During a challenging hike, it can be tempting to focus solely on the ground beneath your feet, but looking up and taking in your environment can be lifesaving. Pay attention to prominent features such as mountains, rivers, or unique buildings.

Of course, cities are easier to navigate with distinct landmarks like skyscrapers or monuments, while in the wilderness, a unique tree or ridge line can anchor your route. These can serve as reliable waypoints for orientation, so always note their relative position as you travel. As a bonus, you’ll get to enjoy the scenery more!

Image: Aron Visuals

Compasses are timeless tools for finding your way, reliable even in the thickest of fogs. Learn to read one properly, aligning the needle to the north and following your desired bearing. When paired with a map, you’ll find that it’s quite hard to get lost!

Modern versions often include features like altimeters or GPS connectivity, but even the most basic model will help you stay on track and find your way with confidence.

Image: Maël BALLAND

Obviously, if you have access to more modern technology than a humble compass, make the most of it! Today, anyone can have a reasonably reliable GPS system on their phone, helping pinpoint your location with precision within seconds.

Before heading out, familiarize yourself with the features of these systems and test them in familiar areas. Most of these services also allow downloading offline maps for areas with no signal. However, if you are going to rely on electronic devices, remember to keep them charged and carry a backup battery or solar charger for extended trips.

Image: Albert Dehon

Remember Hansel and Gretel? They were onto something—though, as the story shows, literal breadcrumbs aren’t the best choice. When navigating forests, deserts, or areas with few landmarks, leaving your own markers is a smart idea.

Use stacked rocks, tied ribbons, or scratched arrows to mark your path. This technique is especially helpful for retracing your steps or guiding search parties to your location. However, try to remove these markers when you return. Leaving them behind can confuse future hikers and may harm the environment by disturbing the soil and increasing erosion.

Image: Kalen Emsley

Let the land guide you. Although this might sound a bit like a New Age slogan, it couldn’t be more true. Landscapes naturally funnel movement—valleys lead to rivers, and trails often follow ridges.

Learn to spot the patterns, like streams flowing downhill or human paths converging at logical points. This skill reduces wandering and ensures you're headed toward areas of interest or civilization.

Image: NEOM

When in doubt, follow your nose! Meaning, of course, that your instincts are often more reliable than you might think. Also, try to remain calm—panic almost always leads to poor decisions.

If disoriented, stop, take deep breaths, and assess. Use tools like maps, compasses, or apps to determine your next move logically. Being mindful of your surroundings improves focus, allowing you to correct mistakes before they escalate.

Image: Lanju Fotografie

If all else fails, and you are utterly and completely lost, your best course of action is to stay in place and signal for help. You can use mirrors, whistles, or bright clothing to attract attention.

Three of any signal—three blasts, flashes, or fires—is the universal distress signal. Helicopters or rescue teams often spot reflected light or vibrant colors from far distances, boosting your chances of being found.