Benjamin Foster argues that Ennugi was considered to be an underworld deity.[6] According to Richard L. Litke, a folk etymology explaining his name as "lord of the (under)world; lord of no return" has been identified on the tablet CT 25 49.[7] However, despite the similarity of the names he most likely was not the same deity as Ennugigi, who is attested in a number of sources, including the myth Nergal and Ereshkigal, as one of the gatekeepers of the underworld.[8]