2898: Zombie Nov 27, 2024

The word 'zombie' has its origins in the Haitian Creole word 'zombi', which likely stems from the West African languages of the Kongo and Yoruba. In these languages, words like 'nzambi' (meaning god) and 'zumbi' (meaning fetish or spirit) are believed to be the root forms. The concept of the zombie as an animated corpse, controlled by a sorcerer, was introduced to Western audiences through the Haitian Vodou culture during the early 20th century.The term gained widespread recognition in the English language after being popularized by films such as White Zombie (1932) and George A. Romero's iconic Night of the Living Dead (1968), evolving into its modern association with mindless, reanimated corpses. Over time, the meaning broadened to include various types of mindless, robotic-like individuals or figures in popular culture, moving far beyond its original Vodou context.