hounfour means A voodoo temple. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 75 out of 100.
Why “hounfour” is a great word
HOUNFOUR — [Noun] A temple or consecrated enclosure for communal Haitian Vodou rituals. From Haitian Creole oungfò, which is itself from the Fon language of West Africa, combining elements meaning 'spirit/deity' and 'house'. Unlike a peristyle—which names the open, roofed pavilion for dancing—or a shrine—a smaller, personal altar—a hounfour is the complete, operational sanctuary. It is the beaten-earth floor traced with vèvè symbols, the central poto mitan where the lwa descend, and the inner chamber holding sequined vessels; a house built not for people, but for the long memory of spirits, anchoring a world within the world.
noun
- A voodoo temple.“A stretch of straw mats is laid on the ground leading from the door of the hounfor.”