noun

wendigo

WEHN-dih-goh

Wendigo (noun) means a monstrous, cannibalistic spirit from Algonquian folklore, said to possess and corrupt those who commit acts of cannibalism or extreme greed. Example: “The horror novel drew on wendigo legends from Ojibwe folklore.”

noun

A monstrous, cannibalistic spirit from Algonquian folklore, said to possess and corrupt those who commit acts of cannibalism or extreme greed.

"The horror novel drew on wendigo legends from Ojibwe folklore."

"Campers swapped scary stories about the wendigo said to roam the northern forests."

How to use wendigo

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA terrifying cannibal spirit from Indigenous North American folklore, now common in horror fiction.

Common pairings

wendigo legend wendigo myth

Word forms

wendigo plural, wendigos plural, wendigoes plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “wendigo” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The horror novel drew on _____ legends from Ojibwe folklore.

Etymology

Borrowed from Ojibwe wiindigoo, ultimately from a Proto-Algonquian word connected to owls and malevolent, cannibalistic spirits.

Rhymes for wendigo

Vigo amigo Inigo indigo vertigo

See all rhymes for wendigo →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wendigo” mean?

The word “wendigo” means a monstrous, cannibalistic spirit from Algonquian folklore, said to possess and corrupt those who commit acts of cannibalism or extreme greed. In plain terms, a terrifying cannibal spirit from Indigenous North American folklore, now common in horror fiction.

How do you pronounce “wendigo”?

“Wendigo” is pronounced WEHN-dih-goh (/ˈwɛndiɡoʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “wendigo” in a sentence?

Here is “wendigo” used in a sentence: “The horror novel drew on wendigo legends from Ojibwe folklore.”

What part of speech is “wendigo”?

“Wendigo” is a noun.