List of English words of Native American origin

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This is a list of English language words of Native American language origin. † indicates a link to a definition of the word.

[edit] Words from Algonquian

Words of Algonquian origin have entered American English and thence have been exported to the English language in general and many European languages. Most of these words are the common names for indigenous flora and fauna, or describe items of Native American life and culture.

In addition, a great number of place names in North America are Algonquian names, for example: Mississippi (cf. Illinois mihcisiipiiwi and Ojibwe misiziibi, "great river," referring to the Mississippi River) and Michigan (cf. Illinois meehcakamiwi, Ojibwe Mishigami, "great sea," referring to Lake Michigan). Even Canadian provinces and U.S. states, districts, counties and municipalities bear Algonquian names, such as Québec, Wyoming, District of Keewatin, Outagamie County, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois.

Some Native American groups are known better by their Algonquian exonyms rather than by their autonym, such as the Algonquin, Eskimo, Winnebago, Sioux, Sauk, Assiniboine and Chipewyan.

• Caribou †- From Míkmaq kalipu
• Caucus †- Possibly from Powhatan caucauasu, "counselor"
• Chipmunk †- Originally "chitmunk," from Odawa jidmoonh (c.f. Ojibwe ajidamoo(nh)), "red squirrel"
• Cisco (fish) - Originally "siscowet," from Ojibwe language bemidewiskaawed "greasy-bodied [fish]"
• Hackmatack †- from an Algonquian language akemantak (c.f. Ojibwe aagimaandag), "snowshoe boughs"
• Hickory - From Powhatan pawcohiccora
• Hominy - From Powhatan uskatahomen
• Eskimo - From Montagnais âyaskyimêw, meaning "snowshoe-netter" (often incorrectly claimed to be from an Ojibwe word meaning "eaters of raw meat")
• Moccasin †- From an Algonquian language (c.f. Ojibwe makizin, Míkmaq mɨkusun, Powhatan makasin), "shoe"
• Moose †- From the Natick dialect of Massachusett moos (c.f. Narragansett moos, Abenaki mos, Ojibwe moo(n)z, Lenape mos, Algonquin mòns)
• Mugwump - From the Natick dialect of Massachusett mugguomp, "war chief, important person"
• Muskellunge - Ultimately from Ojibwe maashkinoozhe, "ugly pike"
• Muskrat †- By analogy with "musk" and "rat," from Powhatan muscascus
• Opossum †- From Powhatan apasum, "white animal"
• Papoose †- From Narragansett papoos, "child"
• Pecan †- From an Algonquian language (c.f. Illinois pakani, Ojibwe bagaan), "nut"
• Pemmican - From Cree pimihkân
• Persimmon - From Powhatan pasimenan (c.f. Ojibwe baasiminan), "dried fruits"
• Pone - From Powhatan apoan (c.f. Ojibwe abwaan), "roast something"
• Powwow †- From Narragansett powwaw, "shaman"
• Quahog †- From Narragansett poquaûhock
• Quonset hut - From an Algonquian language, "boundary place"; after Quonset Point, Rhode Island
• Raccoon †- From Powhatan arahkun
• Sachem - From Narragansett sâchim
• Sagamore - From Eastern Abenaki sakəma (c.f. Narragansett sâchim, Ojibwe ogimaa), "chief"
• Skunk †- From Massachusett squunck
• Squash (fruit) †- From Narragansett askútasquash, "some little thing eaten raw"
• Squaw †- From Massachusett squa (c.f. Cree skwe, Ojibwe ikwe), "woman"
• Succotash †- From Narragansett msíckquatash
• Tamarack †- from an Algonquian language akemantak (c.f. Ojibwe aagimaandag), "snowshoe boughs"
• Terrapin - Originally "torope," from an Algonquian language (c.f. Ojibwe dedebikinaak, "box turtle")
• Tomahawk †- From Powhatan tamahaac
• Toboggan †- From Míkmaq topakan
• Totem †- From Ojibwe odoodeman, "his totem," referring to a kin group
• Tullibee - From Ojibwe odoonibii
• Wampum †- Also "wampumpeag," from an Algonquian language, "white string [of beads]"
• Wapiti (elk) †- From Shawnee waapiti, "white rump"
• Wickiup †- From Fox wiikiyaapi
• Wigwam †- From Abenaki wigwam or wikiwam (c.f. Ojibwe wiigiwaam)
• Woodchuck †- Either from Cree ocêk(?) or Ojibwe ojiig, "marten, fisher," or a Massachusetts Algonquian language; by analogy with "wood" and "chuck"

[edit] Words from Nahuatl

Words of Nahuatl origin have entered many European languages. Mainly they have done so via Spanish.

• Atlatl † (ahtlatl), spear thrower
• Avocado † (ahuocatl), fruit, also "testicle"
• Axolotl † (axolotl), salamander
• Aztec: from azteca(tl) (race sngl.)
• Cacao † and cocoa †(cacahuatl) (fruit/nut)
• Chayote, a vegetable
• Chia: from chien (a chia plant)
• Chili † (chilli)
• Chocolate † (xocolatl) chocolate drink with chili
• Coyote † (coyotl)
• Epazote: from epazotli (skunk herb, an edible plant)
• Guacamole † (ahuocamolli), "avocado sauce".
• Guatemala (Cuauhtemallan)
• Mesquite: from mizquitl (tree)
• Mexico: from mexi'co (the place of the followers of Mexi, the first "Aztec" priest)
• Mexico (Mexihco), "navel of the universe" (alternative: "place of Mextli")
• Mezcal: from mexcalli
• Mole † (molli), "sauce"
• Nahuatl: from nahuatl (clear, beautiful-sounding)
• Nopal: from no'palli (prickly pear cactus plant)
• Ocelot † (ocelotl)
• Peyote † (peyotl)
• Quetzal and quetzalcoatl: from quetzalli/quetzaltototl (feather/bird)
• Shack: possibly from xacalli (sand or adobe house) <ref>shack, American Heritage Dictionary </ref>
• Sapodilla: from tzapocuahuitl (tree)
• Sapota: from tzapotl (fruit)
• Shanty: possibly from chantli (home), but more likely from Canadian French <ref>shanty, American Heritage Dictionary; Merriam-Webster Dictionary</ref>
• Tamale: from tamalli
• Tule: from tolli (sedge, reed)
• Toltec: from tolteca(tl) (people of the tule place)
• Tomato † ((xi)tomatl)

[edit] Words from Quechua

• Coca †, from cúca, via Spanish coca
• Cocaine †, from cúca, probably via French cocaïne
• Condor †, from cúntur, via Spanish cóndor
• Gaucho †^{[citation needed]}
• Guanaco †
• Guano †, from huanu, via Spanish guano
• Guinea pig †, from Quechua qowi, via Spanish^{[citation needed]}
• Inca †
• Jerky †, from ch'arki, via Spanish charquí
• Llama †, from llama, via Spanish llama
• Pampa †, from pampa, via Spanish pampa
• Puma †, from puma, via Spanish puma
• Quinine †, from kina, via Spanish quina
• Quinoa †, from kinwa^{[citation needed]}
• Soroche
• Vicuña †, from wikúña, via Spanish vicuña
• Lagniappe, from yapay, via Spanish la ňapa

[edit] Words from other Native American languages

• Abalone † from Rumsen via Spanish
• Alpaca † from Aymara via Spanish
• Baidarka † from Aleut via Russian
• Barbecue † from Carib via Spanish
• Camas † from Nez Perce[1]
• Cannibal † from Carib via Spanish
• Canoe † from Carib via Spanish
• Cheechako † from Chinook via Chinook Trade Jargon
• Chinook † from Chehalis via Chinook Trade Jargon
• Coontie † from Creek
• Eulachon † from Chinook Trade Jargon
• High muckamuck † from Chinook Jargon
• Hooch † from Tlingit
• Hurricane † from Carib, via Spanish
• Igloo † from Inuit
• Jaguar † from Tupi, via Portuguese
• Kayak † from Inuit
• Parka † from Aleut
• Potato † from Carib (possibly Taino batata (sweet potato), probably influenced by Quechua papa (potato), via Spanish
• potlatch † from Wakashan patshatl (giving, gift), via Chinook jargon
• Salal † from Chinook Trade Jargon
• Sockeye † from Coast Salish
• Tipi † from Lakota thipi (they dwell)
• Tobacco † Arawakan (probably Taino) language, possibly combined with Spanish tobaco meaning medicinal herbs
• Wapatoo from Chinook Jargon via an Algonkian language

[edit] See also

• List of place names in New England of aboriginal origin

[edit] References

<references/>

• Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. New York: Oxford University Press.

[edit] External links

• Words in English from Amerindian Languages
• Online Etymology Dictionary
• Amerindian Words in English
• Freelang Dictionaries