Zombi
/ˈzɒm.bi/noun
A reanimated corpse or a person who behaves in a dull, automatized way.
Did you know?English zombie/zombi entered through Haitian Creole and French from Afro-Caribbean folklore, and the deeper roots are often traced to West African words for spirits or gods, showing how a horror icon was carried through colonial history.
Etymological Timeline
West African source (likely Kongo/related languages)
African
nzambi / zumbi (proposed forms)
“A spirit, god, or supernatural being in some proposed source traditions”
17th–18th Century
French
zombi
“A spellbound or spirit-controlled person in Caribbean reports”
19th Century
English
zombie / zombi
“A dead person revived or controlled by magic in Caribbean folklore”
20th Century
English
zombie
“A reanimated corpse; later, an apathetic or mechanically behaving person”