Why are The Walking Dead’s zombies called Squid? Details explored 

If you're a fan of The Walking Dead, you're likely familiar with the show's creative way of avoiding the "z" word. For over ten years, AMC's hit series has been giving us new names for the undead, with terms like "walkers," "biters," "geeks," and "roamers." But hold onto your brains, because the latest season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon a surprising new terms for the undead: "squid."

Yes, squid. The kind from a tapas bar, not the brain-craving monsters we’re used to in The Walking Dead.

It's a UK-based addition to the usual zombie lingo. So, next time you watch Daryl and his pals in the post-apocalyptic world, listen out when they come face-to-face with these slimy, eight-legged adversaries.

Who knew the zombie genre had so many tricks up its sleeve?

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How "squid" entered The Walking Dead's lexicon

The term "squid" as a zombie nickname was introduced in The Walking Dead Season 3, specifically in the first episode featuring Daryl Dixon.

The show saw Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) encountering Julian, a British survivor. Upon discovering a sign that reads "Beware the squid," the pair thinks they might be facing a deep-sea creature.

But, with his British wit, Julian explains to them that he uses "squid" to refer to the undead! The exchange adds a touch of self-aware humor to the series.

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The Cockney slang rabbit hole that led to "squid"

So why is it called "squid"? Julian revealed that the name has a fascinating background in Cockney rhyming slang.

Here's the logic (?) behind it:

• Start with “departed souls.”
• Twist it through several rhymes and slang shifts.
• Land awkwardly on “quid.”
• From there, jump to “squid.”

This play on words would make even the most stoic British pub-goers smirk! The name "The Breads" for a zombie group could have been a smoother rhyme. But as we all know, slang often prioritizes the punchline over logic.

Julian's deadpan "obviously" seals the moment, adding the kind of dark humor the franchise is known for.

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Does this moment matter for the franchise?

The Walking Dead franchise is known for its cultural twists, and it seems that even a zombie apocalypse can't escape local lingo.

In France, the undead are referred to as "les affamés," which translates to "the hungry ones." Meanwhile, in Greenland, they've been intertwined with the local mythology and called "tupilaq." Now, the latest addition to this post-apocalyptic lexicon comes from the UK, where they're known as "squid."

Cultural influences are always embedded in language.

Many critics have also said that AMC might have considered investigating the global zombie apocalypse much sooner. Daryl Dixon's escapade across the pond to Europe shows that the story can become much more interesting, and even odd, when it steps out of its usual setting in Georgia.

While the "squid" character Julian might not be sticking around since he didn't survive the first episode, the term itself has already become one of the oddest bits of information in The Walking Dead saga's British lingo!

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NEXT UP: Daryl Dixon Season 3 cast and character guide