The word "zombie" goes back to the early 1800's, but the more common definition of "reanimated monsters that feast on human flesh" didn't come untilmuch later. AMC's The Walking Dead revolves around the life of survivors after the "zombie apocalypse," but one crucial thing is missing from the show. They never say "zombie."
RELATED: The Walking Dead: 10 Scariest Zombies, Ranked
According to Robert Kirkman, zombie lore does not existin the world of the TV series. That means that for Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and the rest of the crew, there were no myths and no Night Of The Living Dead. They haveabsolutely no idea what these creatures are, much less what to call them. Here is a list of 10 of the nicknames the show uses instead of "zombie."
Contrary to whatit may sound like, "geek" is not a reference to modern geek culture. The name originates from the old, less politically correct days of carnival and circus "freak shows." The "geek" took part in strange and grotesque acts, often biting the heads off of live animals.Primarilyused in the first and second season of the show by Glenn and Daryl, the term graduallydisappeared from the show.
Rick awakens from a coma into a terrifying world where the dead rise and walk again. Disoriented and searching for his family, the injured sheriff's deputy meets Morgan and his son, Duane, along the way. The nickname "Walker" was coined by Morgan due to the dead coming back to life, and the way that they shamble along. Itwas quickly picked up by Rick Grimes, and is the show's most common way to refer to the undead.
Another common, "no-brainer" moniker for the Walkers, many characters refer to them as simply "the dead ones" because, well, they definitely aren't fully alive anymore, and calling them "people" doesn't feel right either.
RELATED:The Walking Dead: 10 Disturbing Storylines We Wish We Could Forget
The name has been used occasionally by Abraham Ford, and his mullet wearing buddy, Eugene. Later, Negan and members of the Saviors use the term at the Sanctuary as well.
Trudging along on weak, decayinglimbs and broken bones in the hot sun doesn't do anything good for rotting flesh. In later seasons, some of the zombies look to be close to skeletal. More often than not, the monsters move slowly, limping and dragging themselves, depending on their stage of decomposition, and how they died. Merle Dixon refers to the slower ones as "creepers"in season 3, before taking on a group of them.
One of the most obvious terms that covers bitten victims before they turn, as well as the zombies themselves, "the infected"has been used in many virus and zombie related movies.
RELATED:The Walking Dead: 10 Of The Most Glaring Errors
The professional sounding term is also featured in The Walking Dead, and utilized by many of the characters. Most notably, it is used by Dr. Edwin Jenner of the CDC back in season 1. It has also been referenced by some military members in the show.
They are "the walking dead," rotten and somehow horrifically brought back to life by a virus. They look like loved ones, but they are not them anymore, no matter how much characters like Hershel Greene and Dr. Jenner wished for a cure. They are soulless, thoughtless, empty. Jesus (AKA Paul Monroe) refers to them by this telling name in the comic series. "Empties" will also be the primary label used for the undead in thenewest, upcomingspinoff series.
The quiet ones are the most dangerous... or maybe the least. It depends on who you're asking! Lurker is used commonly in the franchise'svideo gamesas a nickname for zombies that lie in wait, sitting in one spot and appearing "dead." They are mostly silent and easy to miss. In the television show, Hershel is bitten in the leg by a "lurker" at the prison. On the other hand, The Governor refers to harmless, "docile" zombies as lurkers.
Monsters can refer to a wide array of terrifying, unnatural, cruel, or imaginary creatures that strike fear into the hearts of those that come into contact with them. They haunt our dreams, and now the survivors are in a living nightmare. It's not as creative as some of the other options, but "monsters" makes the most sense in a world where nobody has ever heard of zombies.
RELATED:The 10 Most Chilling Walker Kills on The Walking Dead
This is prevalent in Telltale's The Walking Deadgames, but is spoken in the show as well. Particularly by Andrea, during an experiment at Woodbury, while she and Miltonwait for an elderly, dying man to turn.
More traditional zombies may be known for always wanting "braaaains," but the ones in The Walking Dead are much less discriminating. Survivors Sam and Ana give them the unsettlingly graphic name in season 4, and while technically correct, everyone knows the Walkers will rip into any part of anything that they can find - human or animal - and definitely not just the skin.If nothing else, "skin-eater"does sound like ahorrifying new movie monster.
Every zombie is a little bit different. Some drag, some crawl, they limp, roam, and lurk, but one thing is for sure - they are all biters (except for maybe Michonne's jaw-less pets). Next to Walkers, "Biters" is one of the more memorable zombie nicknames of the show.Popularized by the Governor(also known as Philip Blake) it is used mostly by the residents of Woodbury, though Andrea adopts the nickname during her stay in the town as well.
NEXT:10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead
Next The Witcher: 10 Memes From The Series That Will Bust Your Gut
See the rest here:
The Walking Dead: 10 Different Nicknames For The Zombies (& Where They Came From) - Screen Rant
- The Walking Dead: Season 11 | Rotten Tomatoes - April 22nd, 2024
- About The Walking Dead | News, Bios and Photos | AMC - April 22nd, 2024
- How to Recreate the Most Iconic Location From The Walking Dead in 3D - 80.lv - April 22nd, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol Sets Tribeca Debut - Bleeding Cool News - April 22nd, 2024
- The Walking Dead star joins Superman movie in major role - Digital Spy - April 22nd, 2024
- Rick Grimes' Ending Finally Honored The Big Promise Walking Dead Made In Season 5 - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- When Will 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 2 Premiere? - UPROXX - April 21st, 2024
- The Surprising Reason HBO Turned Down 'The Walking Dead' - Collider - April 21st, 2024
- "You Really Have to Consider What He's Been Through": Walking Dead Creator Admits It's Hard to Root for Rick, But ... - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- Robert Kirkman: The Walking Dead Animated Series Can't Happen "Until I Get the Rights Back From AMC" - ComicBook.com - April 21st, 2024
- Morgan Jones' Got The Sendoff He Deserved On Fear The Walking Dead - CBR - Comic Book Resources - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Animated Series Happening Depends On One Important Thing - GameRant - April 21st, 2024
- Robert Kirkman Says The Walking Dead Animated Series Can Only Happen Under One Condition - MovieWeb - April 21st, 2024
- Daryl Dixon season 2 could make the Walking Dead universe even better here's why - Tom's Guide - April 21st, 2024
- 7 New Walking Dead Villains That Could Replace The CRM - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Fails Rick Grimes and Here Are All the Reasons Why He Deserves A Better Fate - Hollywood.com - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Is a Reckoning of Hope - Reactor - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman Shares What's Holding Back the Planned Animated Series - CBR - Comic Book Resources - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Crossover Plans Now Face A Huge Obstacle Thanks To Rick Grimes - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- Behind the scenes as 'Dead City' films in Taunton We talked to zombie, caterer and more - Taunton Daily Gazette - April 21st, 2024
- Die creators Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans' new original graphic novel is a cross between The Walking Dead and ... - Gamesradar - April 21st, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 2 and 'Presumed Innocent' Headline the 2024 Tribeca Festival TV Lineup - Collider - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman wants an animated show, but there's one issue - Winter is Coming - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Crossover Plans Now Face A Huge Obstacle Thanks To Rick Grimes - imdb - April 21st, 2024
- Tom Payne and Wife Jennifer kerman Welcome Twins (Exclusive) - PEOPLE - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 5 Trailer - ComicBook.com - March 24th, 2024
- What The Song Means In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 4 (Does It Reveal The Ending?) - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible Season 2 Is Avoiding A Problem That Nearly Killed The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible Season 2 Has A Walking Dead Easter Egg You Might Have Missed - Looper - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 4 Review What We - Den of Geek - March 24th, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Episode 4 Recap: It's Rick, Michonne, and Carl? - Collider - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Includes a Rare Sex Scene on The Ones Who Live: 'It Is About Pain,' Says Andrew Lincoln - PEOPLE - March 24th, 2024
- Daryl Dixon Season 2 Release, Cast & Everything We Know - The Direct - March 24th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Episodes 5 & 6 Get Ominous Tease From Walking Dead EP - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- TWD The Ones Who Live Episode 5 Trailer: Rick & Michonne Find Trouble Escaping - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Does Rick Leave the CRM on The Ones Who Live? - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 24th, 2024
- Into The Kirkmanverse? Invincible Teases A Major Connection To The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Pulled a Bait-and-Switch on Walking Dead Fans, But It Works - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 24th, 2024
- Well, That Was The Walking Dead's Raunchiest Episode Since The Show Began In 2010 - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible x The Walking Dead Crossover is Now Likelier Than Ever Due to This Season 2 Character - imdb - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 5 - Release date & time, where to watch, and more - Sportskeeda - March 24th, 2024
- Rick Grimes Just Massively Insulted Lori, 12 Years After Her Walking Dead Exit - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Ep. 4 Review: "What We" Needed - Bleeding Cool News - March 24th, 2024
- I Asked AI What TV Characters Who Died Too Soon Would Look Like If They Still Alive Today - BuzzFeed - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Rick has a tough decision to make in "What We" - Winter is Coming - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - A Testament to Survival and Humanity - Age Of The Nerd - March 16th, 2024
- Which Side Thorne Is On In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live? Why She Tries To Shoot Michonne Explained - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Where The CRM's New US Mountain Base Is Located In The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Season 2 Gets Cryptic Tease From Walking Dead Showrunner - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Theory: The CRM's Echelon Briefing May Have Sinister Plans - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 16th, 2024
- What Would Happen To The Walking Dead's Main Group If The CRM Found Alexandria - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Predicting The CRM's 500-Year Plan In The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Walking Dead's Creator Admits 1 Criticism of the Franchise Is 100% True - IMDb - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 3 Clip Shows Rick Trying To Make A Deal With Jadis - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live leaves us on the edge of our seats in Episode 3 - Winter is Coming - March 16th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live's Villain Just Nailed Rick Grimes' Entire Walking Dead Story With One Line - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Best Horror Games Where Your Choices Matter - TheGamer - March 16th, 2024
- 'The Ones Who Live' Showrunner Wants to Keep Future Plans Open - Collider - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Star Addresses Shocking Return (Exclusive) - ComicBook.com - March 16th, 2024
- Five Thoughts On The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live's Bye - Multiversity Comics - March 16th, 2024
- Walking Dead: Ones Who Live Star Explains Why Jadis Is Loyal To The CRM - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Pollyanna McIntosh Breaks Down Jadis' Return In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Walking Dead's Danai Gurira on the "big question mark" in The Ones Who Live - Digital Spy - March 16th, 2024
- A Major General Beale Clue Supports 1 Exciting Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Ending Theory - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Tests A Time-Honored Relationship - SlashFilm - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Makes 1 Important Change To Rick Losing His Hand In The Ones Who Live - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- 'A's and 'B's: How 'The Ones Who Live' Solves A 'Walking Dead' Mystery - TV Insider - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Explains A Mystery From Season 10 (Then Immediately Ruins It) - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- 'The Ones Who Live' Pulls Off a Feat 'The Walking Dead' Failed For Years to Accomplish - Pajiba Entertainment News - March 8th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Just Introduced The Walking Dead's Most Impressive Zombie Weapons Yet - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 2 Review Gone - Den of Geek - March 8th, 2024
- What keeps "The Walking Dead" moving forward? Showrunner Scott Gimple insists "love is the fuel" - Salon - March 8th, 2024
- Rick and Michonne's 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Reunion Isn't What We Expected - Collider - March 8th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Is Subtly Teasing A Major Walking Dead Character Cameo - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 1 Twist Explained - TheWrap - March 8th, 2024
- How Well Do You Know the Cast of 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live'? - Collider - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Stakes Out AMCs Best Premiere Viewership In 6 Years - Deadline - March 8th, 2024
- Andrew Lincoln On Scaring Jon Bernthal And Makeup On The Walking Dead' - UPROXX - March 8th, 2024
- Will There Be 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Season 2? The Stars Weigh In. - The Mary Sue - March 8th, 2024
- INTERVIEW: TWD: The Ones Who Live's Matthew August Jeffers on "Terrifying" Plot Twist - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 8th, 2024
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero