Home › Glossary › Letter N

Night Hag

Folklore
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Supernatural being causing sleep paralysis across global cultures

Detailed Definition
The Night Hag sits on victims’ chests, inducing terror. In poetry, she embodies psychological dread, the invasion of the unconscious, and universal fears of helplessness, often appearing in horror or existential verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Night Hag, sleep paralysis demon, haunts psychological poetry: "Night Hag pins me to the bed—silent, heavy, full of dread"; Poets use her to explore mental health: "She’s not ghost, but panic’s shape—Night Hag visits when stress runs deep"; In cross-cultural verse, she unites experiences: "Every land has Night Hag’s twin—same weight, same fear, same frozen breath"; Her presence inspires coping: "Breathe, and Night Hag fades away—mind’s own shadow, conquered slow"
Additional Notes
Night Hag: Synonymous with the Mara in many traditions—a spirit causing sleep paralysis and chest pressure. Found globally (e.g., Old Hag in Newfoundland). In poetry, she embodies helplessness, psychological terror, and the blurring of dream/reality. Useful in confessional or horror verse; consider scientific explanations as counterpoint.
Other Meanings of “Night Hag”
Also Known As
Old Hag Hag Night Witch
Skip to main content