zombi
/ˈθombi/feminine, masculine
The English word 'zombie' is translated into Spanish as zombi. Wiktionary also lists zombie.
Meaning: the undead (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| zombi | /ˈθombi/ /ˈsombi/ |
feminine, masculine |
| zombie | /θombje/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sombje/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine, masculine |
The term refers to the undead. While the Anglicized spelling zombie is frequently seen in Spanish-speaking media due to English influence, zombi is the standard term used to describe these creatures.
Which one should you use?
zombi is the preferred spelling in Spanish-language dictionaries and formal writing, whereas zombie is an Anglicized version often used in various Spanish-speaking countries.
Is it said differently in some regions?
zombi is widely used across most Spanish-speaking regions including Spain, Mexico and Argentina. In some regions, particularly in Latin America, the term infectado is used to refer to zombies.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of zombi is zombis.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθombi/
Did you know?
- Spanish speakers sometimes use zombificado as an adjective to describe a person who is exhausted or acting without thinking, regardless of whether they are dead.
- The use of infectado in Latin America shifts the nature of the creature from a magical or supernatural 'undead' being to a biological victim of a virus.
- The word zombi enters Spanish as a direct phonetic loan, meaning it bypassed the traditional process of being translated into a native Spanish equivalent.
Examples in context
- Ziri es un zombi y come sesos.Ziri is a zombie and he eats brains.This sentence is useful for seeing the word zombi used in a simple description.Tatoeba #13439241 by Seael, translation #11190059 by Amastan
- Alejandro ha escrito una novela de zombis que hará historia.Alejandro has written a zombie novel that will make history.This sentence shows the plural form zombis in a sentence.Tatoeba #10245982 by Seael, translation #10245999 by Luornu
- Dmitri le metió violentamente el lápiz a un zombi por la nariz.Dmitri plunged the pencil into the nostril of a zombie.This sentence shows the word zombi used in an action-oriented context.Tatoeba #11936959 by Seael, translation #11802722 by Amastan
- un zombi aterradorA terrifying zombie
- una muerta viviente hambrientaA hungry living dead
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing a movie they just watched.
- LucíaMe dio miedo ese zombi del principio.That zombie at the beginning scared me.
- JavierSí, pero el maquillaje era muy realista.Yes, but the makeup was very realistic.
- Lucía¿Crees que un zombi podría correr así?Do you think a zombie could run like that?
- JavierNo lo sé, Lucía, es solo una película.I don't know, Lucía, it is just a movie.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “zombie” translations and entries zombi, zombie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries zombi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
