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Definition of lwa
lwa
/lwɑː/
lwa
Plural:lwa
lwa Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A spirit or intermediary deity in Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo, serving as a link between humanity and the supreme creator, Bondye.
Example
"During the ceremony, practitioners sing and drum to invite a lwa to temporarily possess one of the participants."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for lwaWord Nuance & Usage
Often spelled 'loa' in older English literature and Louisiana Voodoo contexts; the spelling 'lwa' adheres more strictly to modern Haitian Creole orthography.
• Rhymes for lwa
Word Origin & Etymology
Haitian Creole, likely derived from French 'les lois' (the laws) or possibly from Yoruba 'oluwa' meaning 'lord' or 'god'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lwa. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lwa