Oklahoma
/ˌoʊkləˈhoʊmə/noun
A state in the south-central United States; the name of a Native American-derived place name in the Chickasaw language.
Did you know?“Oklahoma” was coined from Chickasaw words in the 19th century and was famously chosen as a territorial name, turning an Indigenous phrase into a modern American state name.
Etymological Timeline
Chickasaw language
Chickasaw
okla humma
“red people”
19th Century
English
Oklahoma
“a territorial name formed from Chickasaw words”
1889
English
Oklahoma Territory
“the official name of the U.S. territory”
1907
English
Oklahoma
“the name of the 46th U.S. state”