Goombas are small, cranky mushroom-like creatures in the Super Mario Brothers games. While the Koopas have since chilled out and become nice creatures, the goombas, for the most part, are still cranky, irritable creatures much more likely to kill people than relax.

"Goomba" comes from the Italian word compare(pronounced "COOM-pah") meaning "close friend" -- similar to the Spanish word compadre. The bastardized form "goomba" was allegedly first used by Louis Prima, who often changed Italian words in his songs for American audiences.

"Goomba" is considered an ethnic slur when used by non-Italians to describe Italians.