Glossary of Haitian Creole and French Terms

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Ason:: Ritualistic rattle used in vodou ceremonies by the hounfò.
Bois-Nouveau:: The term, “new-wood” in English, is used to designate reanimated zombies.
Boulinò:: Refers to Bouli (Nord) in Burkina Faso.
Défazi:: The cockfight.
Endijèn:: Refers to the black and mulatto population that fought for and won independence from France.
Gallodrome:: The cockpit.
Konpa:: Popular Haitian music.
Lakou:: Literally a courtyard, this can refer both to a family compound in rural Haiti and also to certain important Vodou temples.
Lasirèndyaman:: Lasirèn is the lwa lanmè, or the spirit of the sea.
Malanga:: A brown, hairy potato-like food often boiled in Haitian bouyon (soup), fried, or made into flour
Peristil:: The roofed court of the hounfò, or vodou priest(ess).
Pimentade:: Fish in chili sauce.
Potomitan:: The center pillar in the peristil, which represents the center of the universe.
Tchipe:: To suck one’s teeth in annoyance. It is particularly frowned upon when children tchipe.
Té Koton:: A kind of tea made of a leaf named ‘fèy koton’. Women usually drink this tea to help them have more milk in order to breastfeed their baby.
Vêvês:: Religious symbols of the individual gods used in vodou ritual. [End Page 114]

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