werewolf

A werewolf is a person who can shapeshift into a wolf or wolf-like creature. In traditional belief, the change may be voluntary, forced by sorcery or a curse, and is often linked to lunar cycles, particularly the full moon, though not all traditions assign lunar timing. In some tales the transformation is instantaneous and the person loses human reason during the wolf form, while in others the individual retains some or all memories of their actions. The term comes from Old English werwulf, meaning "man-wolf."

Werewolves appear in many European folklores, including France, Germany, and the Baltic and Slavic regions, as well as later medieval and early modern records. They were blamed for murders, animal attacks, or outbreaks of violence; some cases were treated as curses or criminal possession.

Common motifs include heightened strength, speed, and senses; transformations often occur during the night or under stress. Many traditions link vulnerability to silver or iron, or to specific weapons, though silver is more a feature of later folklore and modern fiction than a universal historical detail. Bites or scratches may spread the condition, creating new werewolves, and some accounts depict packs or social hierarchies among wolf-forms.

In modern culture, werewolves appear in novels, films, and games, ranging from tragic or sympathetic figures to monstrous predators. Themes commonly explored include dual identities, loss of control, and social dynamics within packs. In psychology, lycanthropy is also the name for a rare delusional disorder in which a person believes they have become or can become a wolf.