List of English words of Native American origin
|
|
This is a list of English language words of Native American language origin. † indicates a link to a definition of the word.
| Contents |
Words from Algonquian
- tomahawk † (tomah'hauk) sharp biting stick
- skunk † (shekãkwa) spray of smelly water
- squash † (askootaskwash) fruit of health/life
- wampum † (wapapyaki) trade good
- succotash † (msikwatash) food mixed together
- pecan † ("pakan" - "nut" via Mobilian Trade Jargon)
- Chicago (chee-kaw-goh) skunk cabbage
- moccasin † from an Algonquian language
- moose † from an Algonquian language
- raccoon † from an Algonquian language
- wigwam † from an Algonquian language
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)
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
- potato † via Spanish
- squaw † (archaic, pejorative) from Cree iskwe
- tobacco † Arawakan (probably Taino) language, possibly combined with Spanish tobaco meaning medicinal herbs