Alaska (English)
Where does "Alaska" come from?
The name Alaska originates from the Aleut word 'alaxsxaq,' which translates literally as 'the object towards which the action of the sea is directed' and refers to the mainland. This term was later adopted by Russian explorers as 'Аля́ска' (Aljáska) before eventually becoming the name of the U.S. state we recognize today.
Full etymology tree
- Alaska (English), 'A state of the United States, formerly a territory. Capital: Juneau. Largest city: Anchorage. Postal code: AK.'
- inherited Аля́ска (Aljáska) (Russian), 'Alaska (a state of the United States, formerly a territory)'
- inherited alaxsxaq (Aleut)
- compound alag (Aleut)
- compound -sxa (Aleut)
- compound -q (Aleut)
- inherited alaxsxaq (Aleut)
- inherited Аля́ска (Aljáska) (Russian), 'Alaska (a state of the United States, formerly a territory)'
Direct ancestors
Updated July 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris