In British and Irish folklore, the banshee is said to announce death with its nighttime wail.
The banshee is an otherworldly female figure associated especially with Irish tradition. Her cry, often described as a keening or mournful shriek, is traditionally interpreted as a warning that someone in a family or household is about to die.
The English word comes from the Irish “bean sí,” meaning “woman of the fairy mound” or “fairy woman.” In folklore, banshees are not usually portrayed as causing death; their role is to foretell or lament it.
Accounts vary by region and family tradition. Some stories describe a banshee as combing her hair or appearing near water, but these details are not required for the core belief. The banshee belongs to folklore rather than documented supernatural evidence.