THE 31 MOST POPULAR SHORT URBAN LEGENDS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The urban legends are popular beliefs that despite the unlikelihood that have Calan between society and become true, spreading among the population at his supernatural fact.

These myths, spread by children and adults, can often seem so real that it is difficult to exterminate them despite the evidence that certifies their invalidity. It is more rewarding to tell an interesting story than to investigate a hoax.

Many legends can be funny, while others cause real panic or terror, not even the multinationals like Coca Cola get rid of it and are usually covered in movies and books, becoming in many cases real best sellers.

Here is the summary of 20 of the most famous urban legends in the world. Let's hope we don't cheat any of the ones you took for real and you've counted thousands of times to your family and friends.

List of the most famous urban legends in history

- Chupacabra

The inhabitants of South America state that a being with a long face, round eyes and sharp fangs appears in agricultural regions. It measures more than a meter, its epidermis is dark and sometimes scaly. Kill animals, especially goats. It makes three holes in the body through which it sucks the blood and sometimes the organs.

The attacks of this figure were reported for the first time in Puerto Rico at the end of the 20th century; But in recent years, similar attacks have been recorded in North America, Russia and the Philippines. It is said that the chupacabra was created in a laboratory, although it is a failed attempt. Biologists allude that this creature is not real and the devastation is caused by a plague.

- Jeff the killer

Legend has it that Jeff the killer is a serial killer, his skin is burned and both his eyes and his smile are scars, which were made with a knife. The goal of this psychopath is to torture humanity, although first he enjoys being physically appreciated and then sends them to sleep forever.

The origin of this figure is still unknown. However, the story acquired value when it was observed that Jeff was a weak young man who manifested his true self after suffering an accident. The madness of this individual is so great that he killed his parents and brother.

-Humans only use 10% of their brain

You have quite possibly seen countless times the image of the great scientist Albert Einstein along with a quote that says "we only use 10% of our brain."

"Get to influence the people around you" or "learn psychic powers." Used very frequently by "specialists" in self-help, its diffusion has been such throughout these years that its veracity is taken for granted by many people.

The reality is that, although the brain can be trained to increase certain intellectual capacities, there are no parts that are unused.

If you are interested in this topic, do not hesitate to take a look at our article "How does the human brain work?", In which you will be able to understand in a more detailed and precise way the structures and functionalities of one of our most important organs.

- Einstein was a bad student

Since the 19th century, the idea has been passed down that Albert Einstein was a bad student. It is expressed that he had stuttering and learning problems. For this reason his grades were low; but the researchers refuted this argument. They revealed that during his childhood he did not suffer from any of these difficulties. The only true fact was that he was slow to speak.

The myth that he was not a good student perhaps stemmed from his grades in Switzerland, where his projects were weighted with a six, which was the highest valuation.

But when he returned to Germany his curriculum was not approved for his failing grades, since in this nation the lowest evaluation was six. So it was all a mistake by the German faculty.

- The alternative Moscow metro

They say that Soviet leader Stalin had a second metro line built in Moscow. A system parallel to the conventional one that would serve for State affairs. The administration of the Moscow Metro has never denied or confirmed that this second line is real or a mere legend and it is believed that it was the KGB who ran it.

If we stick to the rumors that circulate about this transport line, the metro would connect the Kremlin with the security barracks, the Government Airport and other strategic sites in the capital of the current Russian Federation.

- Paul Mccartney is dead

In 1969, a rumor spread that Paul McCartney had died in a traffic accident in November 1966. For this reason, the record company and his fellow Beatles members replaced him with William Campbell. This hypothesis was based on two aspects: one was that by reproducing the songs in the opposite direction, the condition of the interpreter was verified –through the lyrics–.

The second approach revealed that when analyzing the portraits of the 1966 and 1967 records, it was perceived that the singer was not the same, since the nose and the gaze were different. That theory was denied by McCartney in 1969, who explained that in the supposed month of his death he was not in England; but in 2010 a study was republished which stated that Paul did die.

- Black-eyed children

It is thought that there are children with pale skin and black eyes that give off an evil aura. These children live on the streets or in the dark spaces of the houses. They silently approach the doors of the homes and ask to make a call or drink some water; but when they look up you can see the terror in their black and empty eyes, without iris or soul.

There is no evidence as to what they cause, although they are related to vampires, demons, or government experiments. Apparently this legend emerged in 1998, the year in which they saw the youth in the territories of Texas and Oregon.

- "Steve Urkel" died of a drug overdose

There are many artists and celebrities that rumors have buried before their time. In fact, with social networks it is increasingly common to find the hashtag #DEP or #RIP next to the name of the deceased.

In the face of all this maelstrom of false deaths, I would highlight that of actor Jaleel White, famous for his performance in the series "Things from home" that was so successful on the small screen.

After finishing the series, the African-American actor disappeared completely and did not return or perform or do public acts. The result was a wave of rumors in which it was believed that he died of a drug overdose.

Other celebrities who were killed before their time were: Miguel Bosé (AIDS), Joaquín Sabina (drugs), Carolina Herrera (heart attack), Luis Miguel (cosmetic surgery), Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears (car accident) or George Clooney (plane crash).

- Slenderman

Slenderman is in the shadows, he has no face, his fingers are long and in his spine he hides six tentacles that he uses to suffocate his victims. He is almost four meters tall and wears a black suit. He chases teenagers addicted to horror platforms and lures them in through mind manipulation. He convinces them to murder an acquaintance to take them to his mansion.

This character was designed in 2009 by Víctor Surge, an artist who drew up a spectral entity for a Photoshop contest; But the figure began to materialize in 2014, a stage in which videos were uploaded that proved the presence of the maleficent silhouette. Such has been the influence of legend that twelve-year-old girls in Wisconsin injured one of their friends nineteen times.

- Some very living dead

There is also the opposite case. People who have died and yet are believed to be alive or to have lived longer than history tells.

I would highlight the case of two "zombies" that had a great impact in the last century: Elvis Presley and Adolf Hitler.

A priori, the king of rock died in 1977 after fighting against his own self-destruction based on drugs and alcohol. Possibly many of his fans did not assume this loss and found a halo of hope in believing the story that claimed that Elvis had faked his own death and that he really lived in Argentina.

In Argentina it is also said that Adolf Hitler lived pleasantly. Legend has it that he managed to escape from the famous Berlin bunker where he spent his last hours with Eva Braun.

To do this, according to journalist Abel Basti, the genocide fled on a flight from Austria to Spain and from there headed to the South American country. The truth is that history has not made it clear what happened to Hitler's body, although the most accepted version is that he was cremated.

Other characters who are believed "who were not dead, but were on a party" are the businessman and politician Jesús Gil, the actor and martial arts expert Bruce Lee, the pop singer Michael Jackson or Pedro Infante, a Mexican star from the 1950s.

- Walt Disney and his empire, a universe full of legends

There are two rumors that Disney has steeped in his legend as a person. One who was not born in Chicago (United States), but was a European immigrant, specifically from the town of Mojácar (Spain). It is speculated that once he set foot on the American continent, Disney was adopted by an American couple and that, out of fear of possible attacks or suspicions, they hid the Andalusian origin of the cartoonist.

Several researchers and residents of the Almeria city assure that around the 1940s, three representatives of Walt Disney Studios spent a few days in Mojácar with the intention of looking for the birth certificate of a certain José Guirao.

The other big rumor about the Disney figure has to do with the place where his remains rest. Died in December 1966 due to lung cancer, there is a rumor that his body does not rest in the Forest Lawn (California) cemetery, but was frozen using the cryogenization method in order to "wake up" the day. that a cure be found to beat cancer.

In turn, his films are not so little safe from curiosities and legends. Winks to sex in films like "The Little Mermaid" or "The Lion King" or apology for drugs in "Snow White" are some of the rumors that have always accompanied these animated films.

The only thing that we can assure for sure about this 20th century icon is his genius, as compiled in the article "127 best phrases of Walt Disney."

- Alligators in the sewers of New York

One of the most famous legends in history. According to what they say, in the 1930s, wealthy people who spent their vacations in Florida brought with them little alligators that they had adopted for their children. Although it was prohibited, these families ignored the laws to please the whims of their children.

The problem was that when these alligators grew, keeping them was impossible, so the solution they found was to flush them down the toilet. Although it is somewhat unlikely, the reptiles survived in the sewers of the city feeding on rats or garbage that fell from the street.

The story goes that a sewer man was attacked by one of the alligators to his surprise, and that the authorities chased him until they hunted him down.

After this, many and very different have been the stories that have been derived from this story. Perhaps the most curious is the one that suggests that these alligators mutated due to the dismal conditions in which they lived.

- The Loch Ness Monster

What could have been a simple fictional or mythological story, became a mystery when in 1934, the monster was photographed by a renowned surgeon.

Although sightings of the monster date back to the 6th century, no one until then had been able to provide proof of its existence. The Daily Mail opened its front page with the image and for many decades it was considered totally real.

It wasn't until 1994 that the truth came to light. It turns out that Marmaduke Wetherell, an investigator who claimed the existence of the monster, and the well-known surgeon had reached an agreement to mount this charade.

Apparently, the supposed monster was simply a toy submarine that had a sea serpent head attached.

However, to this day rumors continue to appear about the possible existence of Nessie, an emblem in the Scottish country.

- Caesarean section owes its name to Julius Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar, one of the most powerful and popular military men in history, has many legends to his credit about his figure as the leader of Imperial Rome.

Being one of the key figures in Western Europe, it is common to find archives where his military strategies or ambition are praised. It is already known that whoever wins is the one who writes history.

But not all the forest is oregano. Apparently, there is a gossip that has nothing to do with his deified effigy, and it is that apparently it is believed that the Roman leader was the first person to be born by caesarean section. Hence its name.

Although the manuscripts do not leave anything clear, in any case if someone survived this surgical operation it would be an ancestor of his. The Caesars were a Roman family line that took their name from the verb "caedere", which means to cut.

The first reference to an operation of this category dates back to the year 1500, when a butcher extracted a child from its mother's womb while using the cutting technique. Mother and son survived.

- Jews did not go to work on 9/11

The attacks on the Twin Towers in New York in 2001 was perhaps the most shocking event of the 21st century. Such is the case, that although the years go by, rumors and especially conspiracy theories do not eat, but quite the opposite.

It has been said of this event that Nostradamus predicted it, that it can be glimpsed in the $ 20 bills or that the US government itself collaborated in the development of the attack.

Perhaps one of the biggest nonsense that has been said is that there was a Jewish conspiracy aware of what was going to happen. In an article published days later, an Arab journalist warned that more than 4,000 Jews did not go to work at the World Trade Center on the day of the sinister events as they were ill.

Although the journalist acknowledged his fallacy, the damage had already been done and it is common to find messages of hatred against the Jewish community for being considered traitors to the United States.

- The “surprise surprise” that Ricky Martin took

"There are still people who continue to talk about it as if it had happened," said Concha Velasco in an interview with the newspaper El País, trying for the umpteenth time to deny the story of Ricky Martin, the dog and the jam.

For those who do not know the thread of this case, we should tell them that the most famous case of urban legend in Spain is possible and that it has passed the annals of television.

In February 1999, Antena 3 broadcast a program called Sorpresa, Sorpresa, which consisted of bringing an artist together with one of his fans without the latter knowing. In the case that concerns us, the Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin hid in a girl's closet to surprise her as soon as she entered the room.

To the surprise of those who say they have seen that program, the girl entered her room with a jar of jam and smeared it on her genitals to later call her dog and have it lick her sex.

- Kidney theft

It is said that if people go out late or alone they run the risk of being kidnapped by a group of men or a lady, who remove their kidneys and leave the affected person in a desolate place so that they cannot find him. This story was born in Guatemala in the 1990s, when a woman confessed that her son had been kidnapped, and was found days later without his organs.

From that moment on, various testimonies arose where it was stated that similar events occur in Honduras, Brazil, the Philippines and India, whose purpose was to auction the kidneys among the most important businessmen; but these statements have not been justified.

- The end of Doraemon

Continuing with the legends that appear on television, now we will tell the case of the most famous anime series on the screens of half the world: Doraemon, the cosmic cat.

The restlessness of the people regarding this series lies in a supposed final chapter in which the clumsy and spoiled Nobita, Doraemon's companion in battles, wakes up in a hospital room with a stuffed animal with similar characteristics to the cat. That is, it was all a dream of a sick child who was always accompanied by his stuffed animal.

This rumor caused (supposedly) a wave of demonstrations of fans, parents and mothers at the doors of the office responsible for the creation of the anime.

The only reality is that this series does not have a final chapter and that there possibly never will be, since its original creators have already passed away and their successors have warned on occasion that they do not have the power to make such an important decision.

- The thousand and one properties of Coca-Cola

This section would need a full article to list all the legends that have emerged about the world's best-known soft drink brand.

From its secret formula, which is only known to a limited number of people, to its destructive properties.

One of the first rumors was that Coca-Cola had poisonous components, as well as alcohol and cocaine. Interestingly, what most worried people of the time were not these toxic substances, but caffeine, which they feared their addiction. And it is not that he lacked reason.

Continuing with its harmfulness, a rumor traveled the world assuring that the cans were infected by rat urine, also causing the deaths of athletes in Brazil. Today you will see many people who clean the can before consuming it, for fear that a rodent or similar might decide to urinate or defecate with pleasure on the soda.

And the one who did not die from the alleged sanitary negligence found plastic objects, human fingers, pieces of glass or insects inside the can or bottle.

But not everything was going to be negative. Many people claim to give it a positive use beyond just cooling the throat. From cleaning bathrooms and toilets, removing stains from clothes with detergent or maintaining green grasses.

Thus, we can say that Coca-Cola has been on the lips of half the world, literally and not.

- The syringe in the theater seat

When the AIDS disease became public and many of those affected were artists and celebrities, a wave of fear and paranoia soon ran through the population, much like some later ones derived from bird flu or Ebola.

Although in this case the HIV virus has been a rather worrying pandemic, what has not maintained seriousness and respect for those affected have been some of the rumors that spread about it.

One of the best known claimed that syringes filled with the blood of those affected by the virus had been found in movie theaters. You had to be careful because when you sat down, you would prick yourself and you would immediately contract the germ. To add more curiosity to the matter, next to the syringe they left a note that said “welcome to the world of AIDS”.

- Killer dolls

Source: pixabay.com

There are dolls that react at night, trolls are one of them. His steps are felt around the house, his laughter is sometimes heard and every day he has a new list of wishes; although the most important thing is that they take care of it as if it were a baby. Therefore, they must be fed. The person who does not play along will be strangled.

This legend arose in 1990 to oppose the figures of the goblins, which were considered diabolical. These toys were believed to be designed to absorb the health of individuals. This theory arose when several children were found dead and suffocation was the cause of death. Their parents are said to have confessed that infants wanted to get rid of trolls.

- Adulterated food from McDonalds and KFC

According to the information that circulated on the internet, the KFC food chain had to eliminate the word chicken from its name, since in restaurants they did not serve chicken but a genetically modified product. To validate their arguments, the users showed some images.

As for McDonalds meals, it is detailed that the hamburgers are prepared with worms and that the meat is used even if it is expired. However, neither the veracity nor the original sources of this news have been confirmed.

- Silicone breasts explode if you travel by plane

Breast surgery is another one that is always in question, with quite a lot of rumors that have circulated about this type of cosmetic operation.

One of the best known is that if you have silicone breast implants they will explode if you take a plane. The reason that is argued is that they cannot withstand the pressure that exists at that point. At the time it was said that the versatile Spanish actress Ana Obregón "had a boob burst" on the plane when what was really affected was an eardrum.

The truth is that breast implants (and especially the most modern) are very resistant and completely deny this legend.

According to surgeons, many women come up with certain misconceptions in their heads about the possibility of breast augmentation. Word of mouth is sometimes very dangerous and misrepresents information. The most frequent questions that specialists have to answer are: won't I be able to sleep on my stomach? Will I not be able to have mammograms? Will I not be able to breastfeed my baby? Will the chest drop over time?

- Elvis Presley is alive

Many fans express that Elvis Presley only faked his death to escape a chaotic life. For this reason, in August 1977 - two hours after his apparent death - a man identical to the American singer bought a ticket to Argentina. The funny thing is, this guy was called John Burrows.

That name was used by Presley when he wanted to get away from the world of fame. In addition, on the day of the funeral his partner received a bouquet of roses that was signed by Lancelot, a pseudonym used by the interpreter in his relationships.

- Veronica in the mirror

To invoke Veronica it is necessary to be in front of a mirror, call her nine times and have the Bible and an open scissors next to it. When the spirit appears, the room is dark and behind the person appears a specter that murders him.

It is not known when this legend was created; But it is possible that it focused on the story of a teenage girl who played the Ouija board and died under strange circumstances. Some explain that she was hit by a chair to death, others describe that a knife moved across the room and destroyed her body.

- Polybius, the macabre video game

In 1981, when arcades began to fill up with video games next to the pool or foosball tables, Polybius appeared.

This arcade, according to urban legend, created a strong addiction among its players, quickly becoming very popular and causing long queues in entertainment venues.

The problem was that, according to many people who claim to have played, it caused nervous tic, dizziness, vomiting and in the worst case seizures or auditory and optical hallucinations.

In addition, if you paid attention, almost imperceptible messages appeared that incited suicide and apathy.

There are no testimonies of the players of that time, feeding the legend that the machine itself manipulated their minds or that it was people from the US government who were brainwashing them.

If anything, the video game existed and was soon retired. The rest are just suspicions that feed on the mystery itself.

- The Red car

It is said that a red car usually travels on the roads of Mexico and only men have the ability to see it. In the car there are four women who attract the gentlemen with their charms and beauty. The passerby ends up getting into the vehicle and a few hours later his body is found in a rural area.

The body shows signs of torture. Besides, they mark it with strange symbols. The inhabitants of the Central American country express that these ladies are witches who seek souls for their rituals. They state that the car is designed with the blood of the victims, that is why it is scarlet. The origin of this story has not been identified, but it was known abroad in the 1980s.

- Curve girl

Near all the dangerous roads there is a woman dressed in white waiting for the drivers. According to the urban tale, this lady never shows her face and her mission is for someone to agree to take her. When she gets in the car she does not say where she is going, she is silent until she whispers: "I died at the next curve" and disappears.

In certain versions the ghost evaporates without announcing the risk. Therefore, passengers lose their lives. This story is known in many parts of the world, since it has been told since man moved on foot or on horseback, a period when there were no structured routes.

- The Oscar of Marisa Tomei

At the Oscars Ceremony in 1993, Jack Palance was in charge of announcing the winner as Best Supporting Actress.

Reportedly, the actor took the stage drunk and almost unable to speak. He took the note where the name of the winner was collected but was unable to read it due to his drunken state. Jack said the first name that came to mind, giving it to Maria Tomei.

However, legend has it that the name that actually appeared on that piece of paper was Vanessa Redgrave. The Academy always denied that Jack Palance was wrong.

- The time travelers

One of the favorite themes for lovers of mystery and enigmas. There are many cases, as you can discover in this article where through certain tests it is ensured that there are people who travel in time, either to the past or to the future.

Of course, most of them are hoaxes or simple jokes that went viral and led to many people believing in it. And it is that as Göbbels said, "a lie counted a thousand times becomes a truth."

- Secret tunnels in the Mexico City metro

Some Mexicans point out that in the Mexico City subway there are clandestine tunnels that politicians and the military use to travel to the Plaza de la Constitución. Those passageways were built with the aim of protecting government officials from wars or civil movements.

No one knows its address, but people indicate that the tunnels are located between ghost stations. That is, sites that were built, but not inaugurated. Despite various inquiries, anthropologists and engineers have not located any passageway. The only thing that exists is a training space where future subway workers practice.

- The crying child

Months of pain and misfortune suffer families who acquire the portrait of the crying child. In this painting, an infant with a sad face and tears covering his cheeks is exhibited. It has been suggested that this work possesses the evil powers of Lucifer, so it is appreciated when it is turned ninety degrees and a demon is observed devouring the child.

Many individuals express that the soul of the young man is inside the painting and when he manifests his affliction the places catch fire. Only the image remains intact. In the story it is stated that the drawing was made by Giovanni Bragolin, a painter who wanted to be recognized and made a pact with the devil. That is why the portrait is a source of calamities and death.

- The Roswell case

The most direct contact with extraterrestrials occurred in Roswell (New Mexico) in 1947. This is the version most supported by ufologists, experts in the study of the UFO phenomenon.

It all started when the owner of a ranch in Roswell discovered indefinable remains on his land. Living near a military base, he gave part of it and soon they went to pick up the pieces that were scattered on the ground.

The press echoed it and the army had to release a statement claiming that it was a simple balloon-probe. The case was closed…

… Until in 1978, one of those involved in the recovery of the pieces explained to the press that they were possibly of extraterrestrial origin. With it thousands of stories are born about what really flew through Roswell that summer of '47 and what happened at the military camp.

Alien contact is one of the most recurring topics on the internet. In fact, recently the news has circulated that the Holy See and Hillary Clinton share information about possible extraterrestrial demonstrations.

- Bonsai kittens

One of the online hoaxes with the greatest impact and repercussion in recent times. Apparently, there was a portal called bonsaikitten.com that gave the keys to bottle a cat and that it always kept a miniscule size.

This is the same technique used to create bonsai, something that shocked many people who gave a joke created by a prestigious MIT student.

Such was the repercussion of the case, that the FBI itself took part in the matter to study the case.

- The Chinese wall is seen from space

In the course of the 20th century, it was revealed that the Chinese wall stood out for its symmetry and splendor, which is why it could be seen from space. The news was portrayed by Yang Liwei, a pilot who claimed to have detailed the monument during his trip. This hypothesis was more relevant when Leroy Chiao took some photographs from the International Space Station.

These photographs showed images that showed fragments of the infrastructure. However, NASA scientists explained that from space only the Earth could be seen, although there was a possibility that Liwei had appreciated the wall thanks to the rays of light that reflected the material and the texture of the fortification. Apparently, this phenomenon occurs on certain occasions.

- Pokémon Suicides

In 1996, several young Japanese men committed suicide after playing Pokémon. It is said that when listening to the music the children hanged themselves, cut their veins or threw themselves from a building. The justification was that the rhythm of the song caused emotional instability. Because of this, the video game was banned in most countries.

However, the researchers reported that the deaths were not caused by the tune of the Lavender People, but rather by academic pressure from the teenagers. Still, this fact led to the Lavender People Syndrome developing.

These are just some of the thousands of hoaxes, myths, rumors and urban legends that we can find in any conversation or through the immense network. I'm sure you knew many of them, could you tell us any other that has made a great impression on you?