List of English words from indigenous languages of the Americas


This is a list of English language words borrowed from indigenous languages of the Americas, either directly or through intermediate European languages such as Spanish or French. † indicates a link to a definition of the word. It does not cover names of ethnic groups or place names derived from indigenous languages.
Most words of Native American/First Nations language origin are the common names for indigenous flora and fauna, or describe items of Native American or First Nations life and culture. Some few are names applied in honor of Native Americans or First Nations peoples or due to a vague similarity to the original object of the word. For instance, sequoias are named in honor of the Cherokee leader Sequoyah, who lived 2,000 miles east of that tree's range, while the kinkajou of South America was given a name from the unrelated North American wolverine.

Words from Algonquian languages

Since Native Americans and First Nations peoples speaking a language of the Algonquian group were generally the first to meet English explorers and settlers along the Eastern Seaboard, many words from these languages made their way into English.
In addition, many place names in North America are of Algonquian origin, for example: Mississippi and Michigan. Canadian provinces and U.S. states, districts, counties and municipalities bear Algonquian names, such as Québec, Saskatchewan, Nantucket, Massachusetts, Naugatuck, Connecticut, Wyoming, District of Keewatin, Outagamie County, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois, or Algonquian-derived names, such as Algoma.
Furthermore, some indigenous peoples of the Americas groups are known better by their Algonquian exonyms, rather than by their endonym, such as the Eskimo, Winnebago, Sioux, Assiniboine and Chipewyan.
;Apishamore : From a word in an Algonquian language meaning "something to lie down upon".
;Atamasco lily : Earlier "attamusca", from Powhatan.
;Babiche : From Míkmaq ápapíj.
;Caucus : The etymology is disputed: two possible sources are an Algonquian word for "counsel", 'cau´-cau-as´u'; or the Algonquian cawaassough, meaning an advisor, talker, or orator.
;Chinkapin : From Powhatan chechinquamins, reconstituted as, the plural form.
;Chipmunk : Originally "chitmunk," from Odawa jidmoonh , "American red squirrel".
;Cisco : Originally "siscowet," from Ojibwe language bemidewiskaawed "greasy-bodied ".
;Eskimo : From Old Montagnais aiachkimeou, meaning "snowshoe-netter", and originally used to refer to the Mikmaq.
;Hackmatack : From an Algonquian language akemantak, "snowshoe boughs".
;Hickory : From Powhatan , "milky drink made with hickory nuts".
;Hominy : From Powhatan /, literally "that which is treated", in this case "that which is ground/beaten".
;Husky : Ultimately from a variant form of the word "Eskimo".
;Kinkajou : From an Algonquian word meaning "wolverine", through French quincajou.
;Kinnikinnick : From Unami Delaware, "mixture", from Proto-Algonquian *kereken-, "mix with something different by hand".
;Mackinaw : From michilmackinac, from Menomini mishilimaqkināhkw, "be large like a snapping turtle", or from Ojibwe mishi-makinaak, "large snapping turtle" with French -ile-, "island".
;Moccasin : From an Algonquian language, perhaps Powhatan , reconstituted as.
;Moose : From Eastern Abenaki moz, reinforced by cognates from other Algonquian languages, from Proto-Algonquian *mo·swa.
;Mugwump : From "mugquomp", a shortening of Massachusett , "war chief".
;Muskellunge : Ultimately from Ojibwe maashkinoozhe, "ugly pike".
;Muskeg : From Cree maskēk, "swamp".
;Muskrat : A folk-etymologized reshaping of earlier "musquash", from Massachusett, apparently from Proto-Algonquian *mo·šk, "bob.
;Opossum : From Powhatan //, "white dog-like animal", reconstituted as .
;Papoose : From Narragansett or Massachusett , "baby".
;Pecan : From Illinois pakani, "nut", from Proto-Algonquian *paka·ni.
;Pemmican : From Cree pimihkān, from pimihkēw, "to make grease".
;Persimmon : From Powhatan /, reconstituted as. While the final element reflects Proto-Algonquian *-min, "fruit, berry", the initial is unknown.
;Pipsissewa : From Abenaki kpipskwáhsawe, "flower of the woods".
;Pokeweed : Probably from "puccoon" + "weed".
;Pone : From Powhatan /, "something roasted" , from Proto-Algonquian *apwa·n.
;Powwow : From Narragansett powwaw, "shaman".
;Puccoon : From Powhatan , reconstituted as .
;Pung: A low box-like sleigh designed for one horse. Shortened form of "tom-pung" from an Algonquian language of Southern New England.
;Punkie : Via Dutch, from Munsee .
;Quahog : From Narragansett .
;Quonset hut : From an Algonquian language of southern New England, possibly meaning "small long place".
;Raccoon : From Powhatan /, tentatively reconstituted as.
;Sachem : From an Algonquian language of southern New England, c.f. Narragansett .
;Sagamore : From Eastern Abenaki sakəma, "chief", from Proto-Eastern Algonquian *sākimāw.
;Shoepac : From Unami Delaware "shoes", altered on analogy with English "shoe".
;Skunk : From Massachusett .
;Squash : From Narragansett .
;Squaw : From Massachusett , "woman", from Proto-Algonquian *eθkwe·wa.
;Succotash : From Narragansett , "boiled whole kernels of corn".
;Tabagie : From Algonquin tabaguia.
;Terrapin : Originally "torope," from an Eastern Algonquian language, perhaps Powhatan , from Proto-Eastern Algonquian *tōrəpēw.
;Toboggan : From Míkmaq topaqan or Maliseet-Passamaquoddy .
;Tomahawk : From Powhatan .
;Totem : From Ojibwe nindoodem, "my totem" or odoodeman, "his totem," referring to a kin group.
;Tuckahoe : From Powhatan //, "root used for bread", reconstituted as /reduce.
;Tullibee : From Old Ojibwe .
;Wampum : Earlier "wampumpeag", from Massachusett, and meaning "white strings ", from Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-, "white" + *-a·py-, "string-like object" + *-aki, plural.
;Wanigan : from Ojibwa waanikaan, "storage pit"
;Wapiti : From Shawnee waapiti, "white rump", from Proto-Algonquian *wa·petwiya, from *wa·p-, "white" + *-etwiy, "rump".
;Wickiup : From Fox wiikiyaapi, from the same Proto-Algonquian etymon as "wigwam".
;Wigwam : From Eastern Abenaki wìkəwam, from Proto-Algonquian *wi·kiwa·Hmi.
;Woodchuck : Reshaped on analogy with "wood" and "chuck", from an Algonquian language of southern New England.

Words from Nahuatl

Words of Nahuatl origin have entered many European languages. Mainly they have done so via Spanish. Most words of Nahuatl origin end in a form of the Nahuatl "absolutive suffix", which marked unpossessed nouns.
;Achiote : from āchiotl
;Atlatl : from ahtlatl
;Atole : from atōlli
;Avocado : from āhuacatl, "avocado" or "testicle"
;Axolotl : āxōlōtl, from ā-, "water" + xōlōtl, "male servant"
;Cacao and cocoa : from cacahuatl
;Chayote : from chayohtli
;Chia : from chiyan
;Chicle : from tzictli
;Chili : from chīlli
;Chipotle: from chilpoctli meaning "smoked chili"
;Chocolate : Often said to be from Nahuatl xocolātl or chocolātl, which would be derived from xococ "bitter" and ātl "water". However, the form xocolātl is not directly attested, and chocolatl does not appear in Nahuatl until the mid-18th century. Some researchers have recently proposed that the chocol- element was originally chicol-, and referred to a special wooden stick used to prepare chocolate.
;Copal : from copalli
;Coyote : from coyōtl
;Epazote : from epazōtl
;Guacamole : from āhuacamōlli, from āhuaca-, "avocado", and mōlli, "sauce"
;Hoatzin : from huāctzin
;Jicama : from xicamatl
;Mesquite : from mizquitl
;Mezcal : from mexcalli metl and ixcalli which mean 'oven cooked agave.'
;Mole : from mōlli, "sauce"
;Nopal : from nohpalli, "prickly pear cactus"
;Ocelot : from ocēlōtl
;Peyote : from peyōtl. Nahuatl probably borrowed the root peyō- from another language, but the source is not known.
;Pinole : from Nahuatl pinolli, via Spanish
;Quetzal : from quetzalli, "quetzal feather".
;Sapodilla : from tzapocuahuitl
;Sapota : from tzapotl
;Shack : possibly from xahcalli, "grass hut", by way of Mexican Spanish.
;Sotol : from tzotolli
;Tamale : from tamalli
;Tequila: from téquitl: work; tlan: place
;Tlacoyo : from tlahtlaōyoh
;Tomato : from tomatl
;Tule : from tōllin, "reed, bulrush"

Words from Quechua

A number of words from Quechua have entered English, mostly via Spanish, adopting Hispanicized spellings.
;Ayahuasca : from aya "corpse" and waska "rope", via Spanish ayahuasca
;Cachua : from qhachwa
;Chuño : from ch'uñu
;Coca : from kuka, via Spanish coca
;Cocaine : from kuka, probably via French cocaïne
;Condor : from kuntur, via Spanish cóndor
;Gran Chaco : from chaku, "hunt"
;Guanaco : from wanaku
;Guano : from wanu via Spanish guano
;Inca : from Inka "lord, king"
;Jerky : from ch'arki, via Spanish charquí
;Lagniappe : from yapay, "add, addition", via Spanish la yapa.
;Lima : from rimay, "speak"
;Llama : from llama, via Spanish
;Mashua : from maswa
;Pampa : from pampa, "a large plain", via Spanish
;Pisco : from pisqu, "bird"
;Puma : from puma, via Spanish
;Quinine : from kinakina, via Spanish quina
;Quinoa : from kinwa, via Spanish quinoa
;Soroche : from suruqchi or suruqch'i, "Altitude sickness"
;Vicuña : from wik'uña, via Spanish vicuña

Words from [Eskimo–Aleut languages]

; Anorak : from Greenlandic Inuit annoraaq
; Chimo : from the Inuktitut word saimo
; Ilanaaq : Inuktitut ilanaaq, "friend". Name of the logo for the 2010 Winter Olympics
; Inuksuk : from Inuktitut inuksuk
; Kayak : from Inuktitut qajaq
; Malamute : from Inupiaq Malimiut, the name of an Inupiaq subgroup
; Mukluk : from Yupik maklak, "bearded seal"
; Nanook : from Inuktitut word for polar bear Nanuq, "polar bear", made famous in English due to a 1922 documentary Nanook of the North, featuring a man with this name.
; Nunatak : from Greenlandic Inuit nunataq
; Tiktaalik : from Inuktitut tiktaalik, "large freshwater fish"
; Umiaq

Words from [Arawakan languages]

;Anole : from an Arawakan language, or possibly Cariban, by way of French anolis.
;Barbecue : from an Arawakan language of Haiti barbakoa, "framework of sticks", via Spanish barbacoa.
;Buccaneer : from an Arawakan language buccan, "a wooden frame on which Taínos and Caribs slowly roasted or smoked meat",via French boucane.
;Cacique or cassique : from Taíno cacike or Arawak kassequa "chieftain"
;Caiman : from a Ta-Maipurean language, "water spirit", though possibly ultimately of African origin.
;Canoe : from Taíno via Spanish canoa.
;Cassava : from Taíno caçabi, "manioc meal", via Spanish or Portuguese.
;Cay : from Taíno, by way of Spanish cayo.
;Guaiac : from Taíno guayacan via Spanish and Latin.
;Guava : from an Arawakan language, by way of Spanish guayaba.
;Hammock : from Taíno, via Spanish hamaca.
;Hurricane : from Taíno hurakán, via Spanish.
;Iguana : from an Arawakan language iwana.
;Macana : from Taíno macana via Spanish.
;Maize : from Taíno mahís, by way of Spanish.
;Mangrove : from Taíno, via Spanish mangle or Portuguese mangue.
;Papaya : from Taíno.
;Potato : from the Taíno word for "papa", via Spanish patata.
;Savanna : from Taíno zabana, via Spanish.
;Tobacco : probably from an Arawakan language, via tabaco.
;Yuca : from Taíno, via Spanish.

Words from Tupi-Guaraní">Tupi–Guaraní languages">Tupi-Guaraní

;Agouti : from Tupi–Guaraní akutí, via Portuguese aguti through French.
;Cashew : from Tupí acaîu, via Portuguese caju.
;Capybara : from Guaraní kapibári 'the grass eater ' via Portuguese capivara through French.
;Catupiry : from Guaraní katupyry via Brazilian Portuguese.
;Cayenne : from Tupí kyinha via French.
;Cougar : ultimately corrupted from Guaraní guaçu ara.
;Jaguar : from Tupinambá via Portuguese jaguar through French,.
;Jaguarundi : from Guaraní via Portuguese.
;Maraca : from Tupí maraka via Portuguese.
;Macaw : via Portuguese Macau from Tupi macavuana, which may be the name of a type of palm tree the fruit of which the birds eat.
;Manioc : from Tupinambá via Portuguese manioca through French.
;Petunia : from Tupí petun 'smoke' via Portuguese.
;Piranha : from Tupí via Portuguese.
;Seriema :from Tupinambá siriema 'the crested one' via Portuguese
;Tapioca : from Tupinambá via Portuguese, "juice squeezed out".
;Tapir : from Tupinambá via Portuguese tapir through French.
;Tegu : from Tupinambá teiú-guaçú 'big lizard' via Portuguese teiú
;Toucan : from Tupinambá via Portuguese tucano through French, via Portuguese and French.

Words from other indigenous languages of the Americas

;Abalone : from Rumsen awlun and Ohlone aluan, via Spanish abulón.
;Alpaca : from Aymara allpaka, via Spanish.
;Appaloosa : Either named for the Palouse River, whose name comes from Sahaptin palú:s, "what is standing up in the water"; or for Opelousas, Louisiana, which may come from Choctaw api losa, "black body".
;Bayou : from early Choctaw bayuk, "creek, river", via French.
;Camas : from Nez Perce.
;Cannibal : via Spanish Caníbalis, from a Cariban language, meaning "person, Indian",, based on the Spaniards' belief that the Caribs ate human flesh.
;Catalpa : from Creek katałpa "head-wing", with ká, "head" + táłpa, "wing".
;Cenote : from Yucatec Maya dzonot or ts'onot meaning "well"
;Cheechako : from Chinook Jargon chee + chako, "new come". Chee comes from Lower Chinook čxi, "straightaway", and for chako c.f. Nuuchahnulth čokwaa, "come!"
;Chicha: via Spanish from Kuna chichab, "maize" or from Nahuatl chichiatl, "fermented water."
;Chinook : from Lower Chehalis, the name of a village, via Chinook Trade Jargon.
;Chuckwalla : from Cahuilla čáxwal.
;Coho : from Halkomelem k̉ʷə́xʷəθ.
;Coontie : from Creek conti hetaka.
;Coypu : from Mapudungun '.
;Degu : from Mapudungun deuñ, via Spanish.
;Divi-divi : from Cumanagoto.
;Dory : from Miskito dóri, dúri.
;Eulachon : from a Cree adaptation of Chinook Trade Jargon ulâkân, itself a borrowing of Clatsap u-tlalxwə, "brook trout".
;Geoduck : from Lushootseed gʷídəq.
;Guan : from Kuna.
;High muckamuck : from Chinook Jargon, "eat, food, drink", of unknown origin.
;Hogan : from Navajo hooghan.
;Hooch : a shortening of "Hoochinoo", the name of a Tlingit village, from Tlingit xutsnuuwú, "brown bear fort".
;Kachina : from Hopi katsína, "spirit being".
;Kiva : from Hopi kíva.
;Kokanee : perhaps from Twana kəknǽxw.
;Manatee : via Spanish manatí, from a word in a Cariban language meaning " breast".
;Ohunka: from Lakota "false", "untrue".
;Piki : from Hopi.
;Pogonip : from Shoshone , "fog".
;Poncho : via Spanish from Mapudungun pontho, "woolen fabric".
;Potato: via Spanish patata from Haitian Carib batata="sweet potato"
;Potlatch : from Nuuchahnulth p̉aƛp̉ač via Chinook Jargon.
;Salal : from Chinook Trade Jargon, from Lower Chinook salál.
;Saguaro : via Spanish, from some indigenous language, possibly Opata.
;Sasquatch : From Halkomelem.
;Sego : from Ute-Southern Paiute .
;sequoia : from a Cherokee personal name, , with no further known etymology.
;Sockeye : from Halkomelem.
;Skookum : from Chinook Jargon, "powerful, supernaturally dangerous", from Lower Chehalis skʷəkʷə́m, "devil, anything evil, spirit monster".
;Tamarin : from a Cariban language, via French.
;Tipi : from Lakota thípi, "house".
;Tupelo : Perhaps from Creek ’topilwa, "swamp-tree", from íto, "tree" + opílwa, "swamp".
;Wapatoo : from Chinook Jargon, "arrowroot, wild potato", from Upper Chinook, a noun prefix +, which comes from Kalapuyan, "wild potato".
;Wakinyan : from Lakota wa, "people/things" + kiŋyaŋ, "to fly".
;Yaupon : from Catawba yąpą, from yą, "wood/tree" + pą'', "leaf".