Goomba

See also: goomba

English

Alternative forms

• goomba

Etymology

Likely derived either from goombah (“friend”), in turn from Neapolitan cumpà, or from Hungarian gomba (“mushroom, fungus”). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced? Particularly: “Goomba”). For the voicing of stops compare gabagool.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡuːmbə/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

Mural of an unsuspecting Goomba (center right) imperiled by Mario jumping above.

Goomba (plural Goombas)

2. (video games) A mushroom-like enemy in the Mario franchise.
   • 2019 February 17, Polygon, “Bowser's military hierarchy - Unraveled”, in YouTube‎^[1], retrieved 13 September 2026:

     Starting with our infantry, we have our enlisted ranks with Private Goomba. Uh, this makes sense: it is the basic troop.

   • 2024 December 7, pannenkoek2012, “Every Goomba Glitch in Super Mario 64”, in YouTube‎^[2], retrieved 13 September 2026:

     Super Mario 64 is full of different enemies. We got bob-ombs, we got koopas, we have a chain chomp. But perhaps the most iconic enemy is the goomba. It's the first enemy you see in the game, and it's a pretty easy encounter. You just attack him and he dies. But despite how simple goombas seem, they actually have a ton of glitches, which is what we're here to talk about today....

Derived terms

• Goomba fallacy