ogre

An ogre is a large, humanoid monster that appears in folklore, fairy tales, mythology, and modern fantasy. Traditionally depicted as cruel, brutish, and cannibalistic, ogres are typically stronger and less intelligent than humans, though not universally. They often inhabit remote places such as forests, caves, or mountains and are portrayed as solitary or small groups that prey on travelers or nearby communities. In some settings, ogres possess magical elements or exceptional endurance.

The term ogre derives from French ogre, itself borrowed into many languages. It is commonly traced to Italian or Latin roots, with some theories linking it to Orcus, the Roman god of the underworld. The word gained prominence in medieval European folklore and later entered popular imagination through fairy tales and translations.

Across Europe, ogres appear in a variety of tales and legends, sometimes as mindless eaters of humans and other times as more nuanced villains who can be tricked or outwitted. They are often contrasted with or lumped with giants or trolls, but their portrayal emphasizes predation and strength rather than height alone.

In contemporary fantasy, ogres are a common monster type in role-playing games and fiction. In Dungeons & Dragons, ogres are a large, powerful but fairly unintelligent humanoid species with their own language and culture in some settings. The concept has been popularized in film and literature, notably in Shrek, which presents a more benign, sympathetic ogre character within a modern fairy-tale framework.