Words From the First Americans: Algonquian English

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Instructions: Dozens of words in everyday English were borrowed from Native American languages centuries ago — and you probably use them without ever knowing it.

1.
Which everyday English word for soft leather footwear was borrowed from the Powhatan language of Virginia?
A
Moccasin
B
Slipper
C
Loafer
D
Sandal
2.
The word "wigwam" — a dome-shaped Native American dwelling — was borrowed from which Algonquian language?
A
Powhatan
B
Abenaki
C
Ojibwe
D
Narragansett
3.
Which large North American animal gets its English name from the Eastern Abenaki word "moz," meaning "he strips bark"?
A
Bison
B
Caribou
C
Moose
D
Elk
4.
The Narragansett word "askutasquash" gave English the vegetable name "squash." What did that original word roughly mean?
A
Cooked in fire
B
Round and green
C
Bitter melon
D
Eaten raw or uncooked
5.
"Raccoon" was borrowed into English from the language of which Algonquian-speaking people?
A
Powhatan
B
Abenaki
C
Ojibwe
D
Mi'kmaq
6.
Which small striped woodland creature gets its English name from the Ojibwe word "ajidamoo"?
A
Woodchuck
B
Chipmunk
C
Opossum
D
Vole
7.
The Massachusett word "wampumpeag," shortened to "wampum" in English, originally meant what?
A
Sacred offering
B
Chief's treasure
C
White string of beads
D
Counting stones
8.
A "tomahawk" is a light axe associated with many Native American peoples. From which Algonquian language did English borrow this word?
A
Abenaki
B
Ojibwe
C
Narragansett
D
Powhatan
9.
The nut we call a "pecan" gets its English name from which Algonquian language?
A
Illinois or Miami
B
Powhatan
C
Abenaki
D
Narragansett
10.
The sweet orange autumn fruit we call a "persimmon" was named by which Algonquian-speaking people?
A
Abenaki
B
Powhatan
C
Mi'kmaq
D
Ojibwe
11.
Which winter sled gets its English name from a Canadian Algonquian language, passed into English through French?
A
Dogsled
B
Skis
C
Toboggan
D
Sleigh
12.
The North American name for reindeer — "caribou" — comes from the language of which people?
A
Abenaki
B
Powhatan
C
Ojibwe
D
Mi'kmaq
13.
The hardwood tree we call "hickory" has a name that started as a Powhatan word. What did that original word refer to?
A
Hard black wood
B
A milky oil or drink made from pounded nuts
C
Wood used for arrow shafts
D
A food stored for winter
14.
The Abenaki word "segankw" gave English the name for which animal?
A
Skunk
B
Raccoon
C
Opossum
D
Woodchuck
15.
All the Algonquian loanwords in English entered mainly through early colonial contact. In which part of North America did Algonquian-speaking peoples primarily live?
A
The Southwest deserts and Rocky Mountains
B
The Pacific Northwest coast
C
The Eastern Woodlands and Great Lakes regions
D
The Great Plains and central grasslands

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