Etymology

zombie

zom·bie
Z10O1M3B3I1E1

Today it means: A person, usually undead, animated by unnatural forces (such as magic), with no soul or will of his or her own, typically being slow, obedient, and harmless unless directed to be harmful. Full definition →

First used 1936
Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

First attested in the 18th century. Partially through Louisiana Creole zombi (“zombie; ghost”), Haitian Creole zonbi (“zombie”), and French zombi (“zombie”). Ultimately from a Bantu language. Compare Kongo nzambi (“god”), zumbi (“fetish”), and Kimbundu nzumbi (“ghost”) (see Portuguese zumbi, Sranan Tongo dyumbi), and Caribbean folklore's jumbie (“a spirit or demon”).

First known use, by meaning

  • 1936 An apathetic or slow-witted person.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.