Algonquin (English)
Where does "Algonquin" come from?
The origin of the word Algonquin is tied to the Indigenous languages of North America, likely derived from the Mi'kmaq term 'algoomeaking,' meaning 'at the place of spearing fish and eels,' or possibly the Maliseet phrase 'elakómkwik,' meaning 'these are our relatives.' The term passed through Canadian French as 'algonquin' before entering English to identify both the language and, eventually, a variety of place names across North America.
Full etymology tree
- Algonquin (English), 'The language spoken by the Algonquins, a transitional language between Ojibwe and Abenaki.'
- borrowed algonquin (French), 'Algonquin language'
- inherited algoumequin (Canadian French)
- borrowed elakómkwik (Maliseet)
- borrowed algoomeaking (Mi'kmaq)
- inherited algoumequin (Canadian French)
- borrowed algonquin (French), 'Algonquin language'
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris