Vodun
/ˈvoʊ.dun/noun
A West African traditional religion centered on spirits, ancestors, and ritual practice, especially associated with the Fon and Ewe peoples.
Did you know?Vodun is the source of the word voodoo, but the religion’s original meaning is tied to spirit beings and sacred power, not the Hollywood stereotype.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dyeu-
“to shine; sky, heavenly power”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deywós
“a god, a shining one”
Proto-Niger-Congo
PNC
*vodu
“spirit; deity”
Fon
Fon
vodun
“spirit, deity, or sacred power”
French
French
vaudou
“a term adopted for the religion in colonial-era usage”
English
English
vodun
“a modern transliteration used for the traditional religion”