A legendary monster or bogeyman in Latin American folklore, used to frighten children into obedience.
From Spanish, possibly derived from Cocoliche or other indigenous South American words, or from the onomatopoeia 'cuco' (creepy sound). The exact origin is debated among folklorists.
The Cucuy exists as a cultural legend across 20+ Latin American countries with slightly different stories—it's a perfect example of how folklore migrations create fascinating variations on the same scary tale.
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