What is a ghost? 🤯

a ghost is what some people believe is the spirit of someone who has died, but hasn’t completely left the world. Imagine your energy or essence sticking around after your body stops working. People often describe seeing them as blurry shapes or feeling a strange presence. These spirits might be tied to a place or object they cared about in life. While there’s no solid proof ghosts are real, many cultures have stories and beliefs about them. They’re often linked to feelings of sadness, unfinished business, or even just a lingering connection to the living world.

Top 10 most famous ghosts

1. La Llorona (The Weeping Woman) – Latin America

La Llorona is a ghost from Mexican stories. People say she was a woman who drowned her own children in a river out of sadness or jealousy. After realizing what she did, she cried so much that she died of heartbreak. Now her spirit walks near rivers, crying and calling out for her children. If she sees a child alone, she might take them, thinking they are hers. Some people believe she can even hurt or drown others. Her cries sound like “¡Ay, mis hijos!” which means “Oh, my children!” in Spanish. She is one of the scariest ghosts in Latin America.

2. Kuchisake-onna (Slit-Mouthed Woman) – Japan

Kuchisake-onna is a scary ghost from Japan. The story says she was once a beautiful woman, but someone cut her mouth from ear to ear. Now, she wears a mask to hide her face and appears at night, especially near quiet streets or alleys. She asks people, “Am I pretty?” If you say “yes,” she takes off her mask and asks again. If you say “no,” or look scared, she might cut your face like hers or even kill you. People say the only way to escape her is to confuse her with tricky answers or run away fast.

3. Pontianak (or Kuntilanak) – Southeast Asia

Pontianak is a terrifying ghost from Malaysia and Indonesia. She is believed to be the spirit of a woman who died while pregnant or during childbirth. People say she comes back angry and full of sadness, looking for revenge. She appears as a beautiful woman with long black hair and white clothes to trick men. When they get close, she turns into a monster and attacks them. She often smells like flowers before she appears, and dogs may cry when she is near. People believe she hides in trees, especially banana trees, and comes out at night to kill.

4. The Bell Witch – United States

The Bell Witch is a famous and frightening ghost from Tennessee, USA. In the early 1800s, the Bell family said a strange spirit started haunting their home. It made loud noises, threw things, and even hit or choked family members. The ghost especially hated the father, John Bell, and some people believe it scared him to death. The Bell Witch could talk and seemed very smart. No one ever saw her clearly, but her voice and actions were terrifying. The haunting was so strong that even visitors and neighbors experienced it. Many still believe her spirit haunts the area today.

5. Sadako Yamamura / Samara Morgan – Japan (Fictional but feared)

Sadako (called Samara in the U.S. version) is a ghost from the Japanese horror story Ringu and its movie adaptations. Though fictional, she has become one of the most feared ghost figures worldwide. The story says that if you watch a cursed videotape, you get a phone call saying you will die in seven days. On the seventh day, Sadako’s ghost crawls out of the television to kill you. She has long black hair covering her face and wears a white dress. Inspired by real Japanese ghost legends, she represents deep fear of technology mixed with ancient curses.

6. Churel – India and South Asia

The Churel is a ghost from Indian and South Asian folklore. She is believed to be the spirit of a woman who died during childbirth or was treated badly by her family. The Churel comes back to take revenge, especially on men from her village. She can look young and beautiful to attract victims, but then turns into a horrible creature with a twisted face, long tongue, and backward feet. People say she can suck the life out of men, making them weak or causing them to die slowly. Villagers often try to protect themselves with charms and holy items.

7. Madam Koi Koi – Nigeria

Madam Koi Koi is a ghost from Nigerian school stories. People say she was once a teacher who wore red high heels that made a “koi koi” sound when she walked. She was mean to students and was either fired or died in a tragic accident. After that, students claimed to hear the sound of her shoes in the halls at night. Some say she appears in dormitories, slaps students, or scares them in their sleep. Her red shoes are her trademark, and the sound they make is how you know she’s near. Many schoolchildren fear her deeply.

8. White Lady – Worldwide

The White Lady is a ghost found in many countries, like the Philippines, the UK, Brazil, and more. She is usually the spirit of a woman who died because of heartbreak, betrayal, or tragedy—often involving love or family. People say she wears a long white dress and has a pale, sad face. Sometimes she is harmless and just appears near roads or cemeteries, but other times she tries to scare or even hurt people, especially those who remind her of her pain. Many drivers have reported picking her up as a hitchhiker—only for her to disappear from the car.

9. Dames Blanches – France

Dames Blanches, or “White Ladies” in French, are ghostly women from old French stories. They often appear near bridges, caves, or lonely roads at night. They look like kind, noble ladies dressed in white, but they test travelers who pass by. If someone is polite and helps them dance or answers kindly, they let them go. But if the person is rude or refuses, the Dame Blanche may push them off the road, scare them, or make them fall. These spirits are not always evil, but they can be dangerous if they feel disrespected or ignored.