ILLINOIS

Wild Word Friday!

You have to admit that some of the names of states in the United States are pretty wild, at least in sound and spelling. The name, ILLINOIS – a state in the central portion of the U.S. –  is of Algonquian origin. ILLINOIS translates as man – in the sense, “We are men, not deer, not dogs, not birds…”

The Algonquian language group among Native peoples of North American extends from what is now the eastern portion of Canada and the United States to the Rocky Mountain chain in the west. The language group includes tribes such as the Cheyenne, Cree, Ojibway, Shawnee and many others.

The word ILLINOIS comes to our ears via French and English speakers, so the exact sound translation is suspect, but note the similarity in sound to words that two other tribes included in the Algonquian language family used to mean man: from the Miami alania; from the Shawnee hilenawe.

Many states and provinces in the U.S. and Canada are blessed with names that have roots in Native languages. Today on Wild Word Friday, we salute ILLINOIS!

Are you from a state or province or country that traces its name back to an aborigine language? Tell us about it.

Blessings,

Sue