noun General Slang

jumbie

JUM-bee · noun · informal

A ghost, spirit or malevolent supernatural being.

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Definitions

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A restless spirit or evil apparition in Caribbean folklore; the source of many children's warnings.

“Don't whistle at night or you go call the jumbie.”
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jumbie In A Sentence

Don't whistle at night or you go call the jumbie.

Origin & Usage

From Kongo 'zumbi' (ghost); shared across the Caribbean.

Variants jumbyzombie

People Also Ask

What is a jumbie?

A jumbie is a ghost, restless spirit or malevolent supernatural being in Caribbean folklore.

Where does the word jumbie come from?

It derives from the Kongo word 'zumbi', meaning ghost, and is shared across the Caribbean; it is also linked to the word 'zombie'.

Why do people say not to whistle at night in the Caribbean?

Folklore holds that whistling after dark can call or attract a jumbie, so children are warned against it.

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