What's the Difference Between the Yeti, the Abominable Snowman, and Bigfoot?

Bigfoot, a yeti, and the abominable sSnowman have a lot in common: mainly that they are legends. But to determine if there is actually a difference in the terms, we have to go back and dig out the origins of the words. The story behind the "abominable snowman" is particularly juicy.   

The phrase Abominable Snowman appeared relatively recently, and was born out of a messy mistranslation. In 1921, a contributor to an Indian English-language newspaper interviewed explorers returning from the British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. They spoke of seeing large footprints on the mountain their guides attributed to Metoh-Kangmi. Kangmi translates to "Snowman" and Metoh to "Man-Bear"— the writer got the last half of that equation right but misinterpreted metoh as "filthy." Instead of writing "Filthy Snowman" he decided he liked the sound of "Abominable" better and the nickname stuck.

Delve into the origins of Bigfoot and the being know as a yeti at Mental Floss.

Oh yeah, there are other similar legends worldwide.  


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