# ghoul

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡuːl/ · frequency rank #33,253

## Definitions
1. A demon said to feed on corpses.
2. A graverobber.
3. A person with an undue interest in death and corpses, or more generally in things that are revolting and repulsive.
4. A person with a callous or uncaring attitude to human life and suffering, particularly when prioritizing economic concerns.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French goule, from Persian غول (ġul) from Arabic غُول (ḡūl).

## Easily confused with
- **gul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghoul-vs-gul)
- **GOL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghoul-vs-gol)
- **goal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghoul-vs-goal)
- **gout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghoul-vs-gout)
- **group** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghoul-vs-group)
- **gould** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghoul-vs-gould)
- **growl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghoul-vs-growl)
- **grout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghoul-vs-grout)
- **ghouls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghoul-vs-ghouls)
- **Gaul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaul-vs-ghoul)
- **gaol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaol-vs-ghoul)
- **ghost** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghost-vs-ghoul)
- **Ghosh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ghosh-vs-ghoul)

## Common misspellings (7)
`gghoul`, `ghhoul`, `gholu`, `ghoull`, `ghuol`, `gohul`, `hgoul`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ghoul