Jumbee
/ˈdʒʌm.bi/noun
A ghost, spirit, or supernatural being in Caribbean folklore, especially in the English-speaking West Indies.
Did you know?Jumbee is often treated as a Caribbean counterpart of the zombie, but scholars debate whether the two words ultimately share an African source or developed independently in different colonial settings.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-19th Century
Caribbean Creoles
jumbie / jumby
“A ghost, spirit, or supernatural being; the precise source is uncertain.”
19th Century
English
jumby
“A ghost or apparition in West Indian usage.”
19th Century
English
jumbie
“A spirit capable of haunting or troubling the living.”
20th Century
Caribbean English
jumbee
“A regional spelling variant referring to a ghost or folkloric spirit.”
Modern English
English
jumbee
“A Caribbean supernatural being, especially one appearing in folklore and popular culture.”