Illinois
/ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/noun
A state in the Midwestern United States and the name of the river and people for which it was named.
Did you know?The name Illinois entered English through French explorers, who recorded a form of a Native name for the Illiniwek people, showing how place-names can preserve ancient cultural contact even when their original pronunciation shifts.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-1700s
Miami-Illinois
irenweewa
“the people; the Illiniwek people”
17th Century
French
Illinois
“the Illinois people / the Illinois River region, as recorded by French explorers”
18th Century
English
Illinois
“the name adopted for the river, territory, and later the state”
Modern English
English
Illinois
“a U.S. state in the Midwest”
Explore more surprising origins