Mikmaw
/ˈmɪɡ.mɑː/noun
A variant spelling of Mi’kmaw, referring to the Mi’kmaq people, their language, or something associated with them.
Did you know?Mikmaw is a variant of Mi’kmaw, while the older English and French form “Micmac” reflects European attempts to represent an Indigenous name whose spelling and pronunciation were unfamiliar to them.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-contact period
Mi’kmaq
nikmaq
“A term associated with kinship or a relative; commonly connected with the interpretation “my kin,” though the precise historical derivation is discussed by specialists.”
17th Century
French
Micmac
“French colonial spelling used for the Mi’kmaq people; its origin reflects European recording of the Indigenous name.”
18th–19th Century
English
Micmac
“The principal English spelling for the people, and sometimes for their language.”
20th Century
Mi’kmaq orthographies
Mi’kmaw
“A spelling increasingly used for the singular noun, adjective, and language-related forms.”
Modern English
English
Mikmaw
“A simplified or variant spelling of Mi’kmaw, referring to the Mi’kmaq people, language, or culture.”
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