vodu
/voˈdu/masculine
The English phrase voodoo is translated into Portuguese as vodu.
vodu refers to the Afro-Caribbean religion.
Meaning: Afro-Caribbean religion (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word vodu is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/voˈdu/
Did you know?
- While vodu refers to the Caribbean tradition, Brazilians more commonly encounter Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion that shares similar spiritual roots and ancestors with the traditions of vodu.
- The term 'voodoo' in English is often associated with 'dolls', but in Portuguese-speaking contexts, the concept of 'mandinga' is a much more common way to describe the idea of a magical charm or influence.
- In Brazil, the term vodu is often used colloquially as a metaphor for a 'curse' or a mysterious string of bad luck, regardless of whether any religious ritual was performed.
Examples in context
- O vodu tem rituais complexos.Voodoo has complex rituals.
- Ele estuda o vodu há anos.He has been studying voodoo for years.
- Muitos conhecem o vodu pelo cinema.Many people know voodoo through the cinema.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a documentary at a cafe.
- GabrielVocê viu o documentário sobre o vodu?Did you see the documentary about voodoo?
- BeatrizSim, Gabriel, achei muito interessante.Yes, Gabriel, I found it very interesting.
- GabrielEu quero saber mais sobre a história dele.I want to know more about its history.
- BeatrizÉ um tema fascinante para pesquisar.It is a fascinating topic to research.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “voodoo” translations and entries vodu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
