Key Terms: Hmong Words and Definitions

hu plig -  soul-calling

khawv koob - equivalent to witchcraft

khua neeb - spirits of the shaman

kuam - split horn used for communicating with the spirits in rituals

paj ntaub - Hmong embroidery

pham hau - ancient Hmong writing known to a handful of shamans

thaj neeb - home for the shaman spirits

tziv neeb - shaman

ua neeb - ritual only a shaman can perform; involves going into the spirit world

plaag xuas- area surrounding a Hmong home where rituals are often practiced