houngan

/ ˈhuːŋɡən, ˈuːŋɡən /

noun

1. a voodoo priest

Word History and Origins

Origin of houngan¹

C20: from Haitian Creole, from Fon hun deity + ga chief

Example Sentences

Her father was a houngan, or priest, but he left the family early on and founded a temple in a rural area, playing little direct role in her upbringing.

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In Haiti, where Western healthcare services are scarce and too expensive for many, inhabitants often rely on the herbal remedies and ritual practices of their voodoo “houngan” priest or “mambo” priestess.

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A deceased Vodou priest, or houngan, lies on the floor of a private mortuary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

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A deceased Vodou priest, or houngan, lies on the floor of a private mortuary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

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A deceased Vodou priest, or houngan, lies on the floor of a private mortuary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Read more on National Geographic