Chicago etymology

Etymology

The name "Chicago" likely originated from a Native American Miami-Illinois word, "shikaakwa," meaning "place of the wild onion" or "strong-smelling plant."

Meaning

The name "Chicago" describes the city's former abundance of wild onions, which grew in abundance in the area. These onions were an important food source for the indigenous tribes that inhabited the region before European settlers arrived.

Origin

The first recorded use of the name "Chicago" dates back to 1673, when Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette, French explorers, encountered the Native American village of "Checagou" at the mouth of the Chicago River.

Over time, the name "Chicago" evolved through various spellings and pronunciations. It was initially spelled as "Chicagoua" in French documents. Later, English settlers adopted the spelling "Chicago," which became the official name of the city in 1837.

Alternative Theories

There are a few alternative theories about the origin of the name "Chicago":

• Potawatomi Language: Some historians suggest that the name may have come from the Potawatomi word "shikaakwa," meaning "stinking fish."
• Fox Language: Another theory is that it originated from the Fox word "zhigaag," meaning "skunk."
• Algonquian Language: Some scholars believe that the name may be derived from the Algonquian word "shakawak," meaning "thunder."

Chicago relate terms

• skunk

  Etymology Origin Native American Algonquian languages specifically from the Penobscot

• polecat

  Etymology The word polecat originates from the Middle English word polcat which is a

• scalper

  Etymology The term scalper has its origins in the Native American practice of removing

• ladies

  Etymology Middle English ladies from Old English lafdige Old English lafdige from

• limey

  Etymology The term limey is derived from the British practice of serving sailors lime

• Pullman

  Etymology The word Pullman has two distinct origins From the city of Pullman Illino

• banana

  Etymology The word banana originates from the Wolof language of Senegal where it is k

• shill

  Etymology The word shill is ultimately derived from the Yiddish word shidler meanin

• fertile

  Etymology The word fertile is derived from the Latin word fertilis which means fru

• Illinois

  Etymology The name Illinois comes from the French spelling of the name given to them b

• Michigan

  Etymology The name Michigan originates from the Ojibwe word mishigami meaning grea

• Islam

  Etymology The word Islam originates from the Arabic root word salām which means p