The word "ghoulish" is spelled with the letters G-H-O-U-L-I-S-H. It is pronounced /ˈɡuːlɪʃ/ which means it has two syllables. It is an adjective which describes something extremely morbid, macabre or terrifying, often associated with horror or supernatural themes. The pronunciation of this word emphasizes on the first syllable, where the "gh" sound is silent but serves to remind us of its origins from the Arabic word "ghul" meaning an evil demon or monster.
Ghoulish is an adjective that describes something or someone that displays characteristics or engages in behaviors that are morbid, macabre, or gruesome in nature. The term is often associated with a fascination or enjoyment derived from death, darkness, horror, or supernatural elements.
When used to describe a person, ghoulish refers to an individual who finds pleasure or amusement in gruesome or macabre things. This may include an intense interest in horror movies, literature, or themes, displaying a morbid sense of humor, or showing a fascination with death-related topics.
In a broader context, ghoulish can also be used to describe objects or situations that evoke a sense of morbid curiosity. For instance, a ghoulish scene may refer to a crime scene or a disturbing, unsettling depiction in art or media.
The term ghoulish shares etymological roots with the word "ghoul," which generally refers to a mythical creature or monster in folklore that is believed to feast on corpses. The adjective's root in the term "ghoul" emphasizes the connection to death or the macabre.
Overall, ghoulish is a word that communicates a sense of fascination with the morbid or grotesque, whether referring to a person's tastes or behaviors, or to objects or situations that evoke a sense of morbid curiosity.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "ghoulish" has its etymology rooted in Arabic folklore. It derives from the term "ghūl", which appears in Arabic mythology as an evil demon or supernatural creature. In Arabic, "ghūl" is reminiscent of "ghāla", meaning to seize or snatch, indicating the creature's habit of robbing graves or preying on the living. Over time, the word "ghoul" entered English usage, and the adjective form "ghoulish" emerged to describe something that is reminiscent of or characteristic of a "ghoul".