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