The termboogeymanorbogeymanoriginated in England centuries ago and comes from the Middle English word for “ frightening spectre . ” Our idea of the grapheme has n’t mystify any more specific over the years , and today , boogeymanis used as a catchall full term for spooky figures that go bump in the Nox . If you diversify your hunt to other component part of the word , however , you ’ll get hold versions of the monster with terrifying levels of detail . From Kelpie toKrampus , here are unlike iteration of the boogeyman from nearly every country around the cosmos .

To make the single-valued function below , The Toy Zoneused a blanket definition of what ’s considered a boogeyman . The graphic include creatures from local mythology and folklore , like the Babau of Italy and the almas of Mongolia . Other monsters , like theJersey Devilin the United States , would hang nearer to Merriam - Webster’sdefinitionof a cryptid as “ an animal … that has been claimed to live but never proven to live . ” And while most of the boogeyman on the map are indeed men , there are a few boogeywomen . La Llorona of Mexico , the langsuyar of Singapore , and La Cigua ( or La Cegua ) of Nicaragua are notable examples . you’re able to consider an enlarged version of the map byclicking here .

The small pictures of each area ’s monster visualize what multitude witness scary in different cultures . Bat wing and reptilian bodies are uncouth themes , as are ghostly , shattered robe . Though their appearance vary wildly , being a recurring character in local nipper ’s nightmare is something every boogeyman has in common .

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Keep in mind that these illustrations are one creative person ’s reading of centuries of folklore . Many acculturation ca n’t fit on what their most famous mythical beast should attend like . The Bunyip of Indigenous Australian legends , for deterrent example , resembles an ox , hippo , or seal , depend on who you ask . you’re able to learn more about many of the cryptids featured in this maphere .

Map showing iterations of the Boogeyman from almost every country.