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.
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Words from Algonquian
- Caribou †- From Mi'kmaq kalipu
- Chipmunk †- Originally "chitmunk," from Ojibwe ajidamoo, "red squirrel"
- Moccasin †- From an Algonquian language (c.f. Ojibwe makizin, Mi'kmaq m’kusun, Powhatan makasin)
- Moose †- From an Algonquian language (c.f. Narragansett moos, Abenaki mos, Ojibwe mooz)
- Muskrat †- By analogy with "musk" and "rat," from Powhatan muscascus
- Opossum †- From Powhatan apasum
- Pecan †- From Illinois pakani
- Powwow †- From Narragansett powwaw, "shaman"
- Quahog †- From Narragansett poquaûhock
- Raccoon †- From Powhatan arahkun
- Skunk †- From Massachusett squunck
- Squash †- From Narragansett askútasquash
- Squaw †- From Massachusett squa
- Succotash †- From Narragansett msíckquatash
- Tomahawk (axe) †- From Powhatan tamahaac
- Toboggan †- From Mi'kmaq tobakan
- Totem †- From Ojibwe odoodem, "his totem," referring to a kin group
- Wampum †- Also "wampumpeag," from an Algonquian language
- Wickiup †- From Fox wiikiyaapi
- Wigwam †- From Abenaki wigwam or wikiwam
- Woodchuck †- Either from Cree ocêk(?) or Ojibwe ojiig, "marten, fisher," or a Massachusetts Algonquian language; by analogy with "wood" and "chuck"
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Words from Nahuatl
most of these are via Spanish.
- Atlatl † (ahtlatl), spear thrower
- Avocado † (ahuocatl)
- Axolotl † (axolotl)
- Cacao † and cocoa †(cacahuatl)
- Chayote, a vegetable
- Chili † (chilli)
- Chocolate † (chocolatl) chocolate drink with chili
- Coyote † (coyotl)
- Guacamole † (ahuocamolli), "avocado sauce".
- Mole † (molli), "sauce"
- Ocelot † (ocelotl)
- Peyote † (peyotl)
- Tomato † (tomatl)
- Guatemala (Cuauhtemallan)
- Mexico (Mexihco), "navel of the universe" (alternative: "place of Mextli")
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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
- Cannibal † from Carib via Spanish
- Canoe † from Carib via Spanish
- Cheechako † from Chinook via Chinook Trade Jargon
- Cocaine † from Quechua via Spanish
- Guinea pig † from Quechua "qowi" via Spanish
- Hooch † from Tlingit
- Hurricane † from Carib, via Spanish
- Igloo † from Inuit
- Jaguar † from Tupi, via Portuguese
- Kayak † from Inuit
- Papoose † from Narragansett
- Parka † from Aleut
- Potato † via Spanish
- Squaw † (archaic, pejorative) from Cree iskwe
- Tobacco † Arawakan (probably Taino) language, possibly combined with Spanish tobaco meaning medicinal herbs
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External links
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