A Beginner's Guide to Common Ghosts & Spirits

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Spine-tingling insights into ghosts from all around the world

Co-authored by Jennifer McVey, Cht and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: July 2, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Common Types of Ghosts
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• Asian Ghosts
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• African Ghosts
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• Middle Eastern Ghosts
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• European Ghosts
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• North and South American Ghosts
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• Expert Interview

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A ghost is the spirit of a deceased person or animal who has not moved on to the afterlife. Ghosts may appear to the living in a number of forms, and there are countless types of ghosts found all over the world. If you want to know more about all of these spooky apparitions, keep reading. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the most common types of ghosts, plus ghostly mythology and folklore from cultures all across the globe.

Things You Should Know

• Interactive personalities are ghosts that communicate with the living, like deceased loved ones or historical figures.
• Poltergeists are mischievous spirits that move things around and make repetitive noises. They’re typically attached to a person.
• Ghosts may appear as orbs, mist, or funnels of light before becoming a full-bodied apparition.

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Section 1 of 6:

Common Types of Ghosts

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1. 1
   Interactive Personalities This category includes any ghost that can interact with the living world. They’re intelligent and self-aware and can appear physically, audibly, or telepathically. They may be able to touch people or objects and create smells that were associated with them, like perfume or tobacco.

   • Frequently, these are a deceased friend or family member, though they may occasionally be a stranger. When seen by a loved one, these sightings are typically a farewell or an attempt to console the grieving.
   • Historical ghosts are also a type of interactive personality. These are historical figures who must be identifiable to the observer, like Abraham Lincoln, for example. These ghosts are usually tied to a specific location and have been seen numerous times by different people over the years.
   • It’s also possible for an interactive personality to remain anonymous. A common example is seeing an unknown soldier on a battlefield. Usually, these spirits are angry, confused, or scared when encountering the living.
   • Encounters with interactive personalities can be positive or negative, depending on the ghost’s demeanor. They can be loving and warm or angry and frightened.
   • Pro tip: If you want to communicate with ghosts via Ouija board, it’s important to stay safe. Paranormal expert Jennifer McVey says to close off your energy. “If you ask your higher self to be the guide,” she says, “then the spirit doesn’t actually have to get in your body. It can be outside of your body and energy field, and it can communicate with you.”
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   Poltergeists The term “poltergeist” comes from the German word for “noisy ghost.” Unlike other types of ghosts, poltergeists often throw and move objects, make repetitive noises, and cause havoc and mischief for the person or place they’re haunting. In general, poltergeists are relatively harmless—just inconvenient.

   • Usually, a poltergeist attaches itself to one person and follows them to different locations. Typically, they feed off of the energy and emotions of children and teenagers.
   • While poltergeists are generally nothing more than an annoyance, there have occasionally been reports of them attacking people.
   • Some people believe that the person being haunted is actually using telekinesis unconsciously, and the “haunting” is a result of their abilities rather than an actual ghost.
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   Residual Ghosts Residual ghosts are tied to a specific location, usually associated with a traumatic event or emotional experience. These ghosts replay that particular moment from their life over and over.

   • According to the Stone Tape Theory, these ghosts are like tape recordings. They’re mental impressions from the traumatic event that are projected onto objects in the form of energy to be replayed in certain conditions.
   • Residual ghosts are sometimes called imprints, as well, because they’re imprinted to a specific place and pattern of behavior.
   • Sometimes, these ghosts may only appear on the anniversary of a significant event, like their death. These are called cyclic ghosts.
   • Pro tip: To overcome your fear of ghosts, ask yourself where the fear comes from. Paranormal expert Jennifer McVey says, “Sometimes when you’re terrified of ghosts, you actually might be picking up on the ghost’s feelings more than your own.”
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   Ectoplasm/Mist Ghosts These spirits appear as a swirling mist or fog usually floating several feet off the ground. Sometimes, this ghostly fog appears before becoming a full-bodied apparition. Mist ghosts can appear almost anywhere and are frequently spotted in graveyards, battlefields, and historical locations.
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   Funnel Ghosts Frequently found in homes or old buildings, these spirits take on the form of a swirling funnel or vortex and are often associated with cold spots. Many believe these are former residents or loved ones returning to visit. When caught on camera, funnel ghosts often appear as a wisp or spiral of light.
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   Orbs Orbs are frequently photographed balls of light that are believed to be the souls of the deceased. An orb is often the first form a ghost takes before it becomes a full-bodied apparition.
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   Living Ghosts While extremely rare, living ghosts are manifestations of a living person who is currently in a different location. Sometimes, the living person is in danger and their spirit returned to a safe space or came to warn a loved one of danger. Since these events are rare and non-recurring, they cannot be thoroughly studied.

   • Another type of living ghost is the “moment of death” ghost. The spirit of a dying person may appear to a loved one before they officially pass on, and the loved one will realize it was at the moment of their death when they receive the news that the person has passed away.
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   Inanimate Object Ghosts Sometimes considered a type of residual ghost, inanimate object ghosts are a manifestation of an object without a soul. Some common sightings include the ghostly appearance of old ships and trains that no longer exist. Usually, these vehicles met a tragic end. These phenomena are usually rare and non-recurring.

   • Some other common inanimate object ghosts include weapons, jewelry, dolls, and any item that moves or acts on its own, like a television turning itself on. However, some argue that these hauntings could be the result of a poltergeist.
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   Animal Ghosts These ghosts are the spirits of deceased animals. Animal ghosts are most often pets visiting their owners, though wild or ferocious dogs are often reported to haunt crossroads and frighten passersby.
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Section 2 of 6:

Asian Ghosts

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1. 1
   Bhoota/Bhuta In Indian mythology, a bhoota is a restless ghost that is prevented from moving on to the next life. This may be because they suffered a violent death, they have unfinished business, or because their living family did not perform the proper funerary rites. They generally take the form of a human, though you can tell they’re ghosts because their feet are backward.
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   Preta Translated as “the hungry ghost,” preta are found in Buddhist, Hindu, and Chinese folklore. These spirits undergo extreme suffering, like insatiable hunger, because they were excessively greedy in life. Traditionally, preta crave disgusting or humiliating sustenance, like corpses or feces.

   • In Buddhism, preta are not seen as frightening. Instead, Buddhists pity them and try to help them move on by performing rituals and providing offerings.
   • To end their karmic cycle, the preta’s living family must perform a series of funerary rites over the course of a year or the spirit will remain cursed for eternity.
   • While invisible to the human eye, preta are described as having sunken, mummified skin, narrow limbs and necks, and an enormous stomach.
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   Onryo In Japan, an onryo is a vengeful ghost that causes harm to the living and can even create natural disasters to get vengeance. They’re often depicted as wronged women and are extremely bloodthirsty and cruel.

   • When a spirit holds too much hatred, it separates from the body and becomes an onryo. This often happens when someone dies an unnatural or untimely death.
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   Phi Am In Thailand, a Phi Am is a spirit that sits on a person’s chest at night and causes sleep paralysis and nightmares. Phi Am tend to prefer male victims to female, so men sometimes dress up as women to try to avoid them.
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   Kuntilanak/Pontianak The Kuntilanak or Pontianak is a dangerous female spirit in Malay and Indonesian mythology. Sometimes known as vampiric ghosts, Pontianaks are women who died during childbirth and often appear as pregnant women with long hair and white dresses. They’re usually accompanied by an awful stench and announce their presence through the cries of babies.

   • The Pontianak’s victims are usually men, and they locate their victims by following the scent of their clean laundry. For this reason, many Malaysians refuse to leave their clothes outside overnight.
   • Pontianaks are nocturnal and reside in banana trees during the day.
   • They can be defeated by driving a nail into the hole in their neck, which causes them to turn into a good wife until the nail is removed.
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Section 3 of 6:

African Ghosts

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   Madam Koi Koi In a popular Nigerian urban legend, Madam Koi Koi is a ghost who wears red high heels and haunts the halls of schools. At night, she wanders the halls of the school and the dormitories, and during the day, she haunts the bathrooms. She attacks misbehaving students and can often be heard whistling or singing.

   • The name “Koi Koi” comes from the sound her high heels make when she’s walking around.
   • One version of the legend states that Madam Koi Koi was an abusive teacher in life, so her students came together to kill her. After her death, the students began disappearing one by one. Every time one went missing, the students could hear Madam Koi Koi walking.
   • Similar legends can be found in other African countries, like Madam Moke in Ghana and Miss Konkoko in Tanzania.
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   Amadlozi Amadlozi are protective spirits and ancestors of the Nguni people in Africa. The Nguni, or Zulu, people believe these spirits can be summoned for assistance and often lead them to a life of purpose and integrity. The Nguni believe their connection with the Amadlozi is their closest link to God.
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   Egbere In Yoruba mythology, Egbere is an evil spirit who frequents the woods and roams around at night. It’s described as being short in stature and it often carries a mat and is always in tears. It is often believed if you manage to take the mat from the Egbere, you’ll receive unimaginable riches.
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   Ogbanje In Igbo folklore, the ogbanje are evil spirits that plague families with misfortune. Literally translated as “children who come and go,” the ogbanje are similar to changelings in Celtic mythology. They take the form of children and deliberately die young to be reborn as the family’s next child and repeat the cycle over and over.

   • Most people no longer believe in the ogbanje, as the myth was likely a way of understanding previously unknown diseases like SIDS and sickle cell disease.
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Section 4 of 6:

Middle Eastern Ghosts

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1. 1
   Dybbuk In Jewish folklore, a dybbuk (sometimes spelled dibbuk) is an evil spirit who possesses a living person, clings to their soul, and causes pain and mental illness. A common explanation is that a dybbuk is a spirit who was not properly laid to rest and became a demon.
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   Mazzikin In Jewish mythology, Mazzikin are invisible spirits or demons that cause harm to the living. In the Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism, the Mazzikin were created on the eve of the Sabbath of creation, and in the Zohar, it is believed that they are the spirits of evil men.

   • Mazzikin are typically depicted with characteristics of both angels and humans. Like angels, they have wings, can travel great distances quickly, and possess knowledge of the future. Like humans, they can eat, drink, and eventually die.
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   Ifrit An ifrit is a powerful demon or spirit from Islamic folklore. They’re frequently associated with the underworld and spirits of the dead, and they sometimes inhabit ruins or temples. Sometimes considered a type of jinn, they frequently appear as enormous creatures with wings and horns.
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   Hatif Arabic for “calling” or “shouting,” this term refers to a disembodied voice. Hatif often comes from ghosts lingering near graves to announce their death and remind humans of their mortality.
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Section 5 of 6:

European Ghosts

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   Banshee The banshee is a female Irish spirit who appears as an omen or harbinger of death. When the banshee is heard wailing or singing a lament, someone in the family has died or will die soon. While most commonly known to predict death, banshees may also serve as an omen for other misfortunes.

   • If a person of particular importance dies, one might hear multiple banshees wailing.
   • Banshees may appear as a young, attractive woman or as an old crone. Their eyes are often blood red, and they may take the form of a crow or a black dog.
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   Doppelganger A doppelganger is a ghostly double of a living person. The term comes from the German “doppel” and “ganger” which, together, mean “double walker.” Seeing your doppelganger often predicts illness, death, or another tragedy. Doppelgangers may also be a spirit taking on someone’s form to cause mischief.

   • Doppelgangers may be seen copying a person’s movements like a shadow or performing the movements before the actual person does them. They may also appear in the mirror with the reflection facing away.
   • Some legends state that Doppelgangers kill or imprison the person they’re impersonating so that they can take over their lives.
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   Gjenganger A Gjenganger is a Scandinavian ghost that has been revived to purposely haunt the living. The term translates to “walking again.” Gjengangers are typically those who died before their time, like murder victims, who want to seek revenge on those who wronged them. They also spread sickness and wreak havoc among the living.

   • Gjengangers typically attack when their victim is sleeping. They’ll pinch the victim and flee, and when the victim wakes up, they’ll notice a blue spot where the Gjenganger pinched them. This mark is a sign of sickness and death for the victim.
   • Another term for a gjenganger is a revenant, which is a spirit that has been revived from death to haunt the living. Many European cultures have tales of revenants.
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   Shade In ancient Greece, shades were spirits of the dead residing in the Underworld. The spirits appear as intangible shadows, hence the name “shades.” Shades appear in numerous pieces of literature, including Homer’s The Odyssey and Dante’s Divine Comedy.
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   White Lady The White Lady, or Lady in White, is a female spirit who wears a white dress and is associated with tragedy. Frequently, their stories involve accidental death, murder, or suicide and feature themes of unrequited love and betrayal. Sometimes, the appearance of a White Lady means there will be a death in the family.

   • While White Ladies are most frequently associated with Europe, they’ve been spotted all over the world, including parts of the United States and Asia.
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Section 6 of 6:

North and South American Ghosts

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1. 1
   La Llorona Literally translated as “the weeping woman,” La Llorona is a vengeful Latin American ghost who lingers near bodies of water mourning the children she drowned after discovering her husband was cheating on her. While her story differs depending on the culture and location, it’s typically told to scare children into behaving.
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   Phantom Hitchhikers Many popular American urban legends involve a ghostly hitchhiker. Someone picks up a hitchhiker on a dark, rainy night only for the hitchhiker to vanish into thin air. If the driver drops the hitchhiker off at their house, the door is usually opened by a loved one who reveals the hitchhiker has been dead for years. These stories were particularly popular in the 1960s and 1970s when hitchhiking was more common than it is today.

   • Sometimes, the tale is reversed and the hitchhiker discovers the driver is actually a ghost.
   • Another version of the vanishing hitchhiker is the legend of La Sayona, a vengeful spirit from Venezuela. She appears only to men who have committed adultery and asks them for a ride. When the man tries to look at her face, he sees only a skull with sharp teeth.
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   Lady in Red The Lady in Red, or Red Lady, is a type of female ghost typically killed by a jilted lover in a fit of passion who appears in a blood-red dress. These ghosts are frequently sighted in historic hotels across the United States, though they have also been reported in Canada, the UK, and even parts of Asia.
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   El Silbon Known as “the Whistler” or “Whistle Man,” El Silbon is a lost soul who roams Venezuela. When El Silbon was a boy, he killed his father and was cursed to carry his bones for eternity. If you hear whistling nearby, you’re not in danger, but if it sounds far away, El Silbon is nearby.

   • There are several versions of this legend. Sometimes, El Silbon only appears to kill bad men, while in other stories, he arrives at a house to announce a death in the family.
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