The word Vodou comes from the African word Vodun, which means "spirit."

Over time, many different spellings of Vodou have emerged. Scholars have warmed to the idea of a different spelling in the hope that Americans might forget the false and negative myths associated with it, and consider the religion in a more respectful light. The spelling of words spoken in Kreyol (Creole), the language most widely used in Haiti, is phonetic (the other language spoken in Haiti is French). Although there is disagreement among academics as to its "correct" spelling, Vodou is used

throughout this exhibition because it comes closest to the way the word is pronounced and might be spelled by Kreyol-speaking people in Haiti.