Connecticut (English)
Where does "Connecticut" come from?
The name Connecticut comes from the Mohegan-Pequot phrase 'quinnitukqut,' which translates literally to 'at the long tidal river.' This Indigenous term describes the geographical reality of the river that flows through the region, though its current spelling was likely influenced by a folk-etymological connection to the English word 'connect'.
Full etymology tree
- Connecticut (English), 'A state in the northeastern United States.'
- derived quinnitukqut (Mohegan-Pequot)
- compound *kwen- (Mohegan-Pequot)
- compound *-ehtekw (Mohegan-Pequot)
- suffix *-enk (Mohegan-Pequot)
- influence connect (English), 'To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object.'
- derived quinnitukqut (Mohegan-Pequot)
Updated July 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris