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The Literal Translation of Places in Canada & the United States Flattened Water. Place of the Small Spring. Milky Water. At first glance, these phrases might look like just a jumble of words, but they’re actually something way cooler: the literal translation of three state names in the United States. Can you guess which ones? Expedia Canada has taken the names of all U.S. states and Canadian provinces and territories and put them into one map along with their translation or origin. They offer a unique insight into the forgotten history of the continent and may teach something new about your home. And you might be surprised to know a particular state’s meaning. As Expedia puts it, state etymologies “offer a unique insight into the forgotten history of the continent and may teach something new about your home.” The Meaning Behind Names of Places in Canada & the United States Expedia Want to dig into the state meanings a little more? Expedia Canada includes links to its sources. So you can decide for yourself if, for example, you’d prefer knowing Alabama as “tribal town,” the translation from the American Creek language, or the more popular translation of “vegetation gatherers” or “thicket-clearers,” derived from the Choctaw language. The Literal Translation of the Provinces and Territories of Canada A lot of the state meaning variation comes down to which Native American language source you go with. Others have an obvious connection to the English language (Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North/South Carolina, Virginia) or famous figures (Washington and Pennsylvania). It’s fun knowing the backgrounds of the state names you’ve been saying since you learned to spell M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I (that’s “Great River” to you). The Literal Meaning of Every State in the U.S. Here are Expedia’s top choices for each state’s literal meaning and the language each was derived from. Note: There are conflicting origin stories for many state names. If you’ve done any digging into this yourself, you’ll find this to be true! This map and the etymology of each state name are based on Expedia’s research, which you can read more about here on EXPEDIA. Click NEXT to read the individual US states and their meanings (from A to W)... Alabama Meaning: Thicket-Clearers Language: Choctaw Getty Images | Kevin C. Cox Alaska Meaning: That Which the Sea Breaks Against Language: Aleut Getty Images | Uriel Sinai Arizona Meaning: Place of the Small Spring Language: Spanish interpretation of O’odham Getty Images | Ethan Miller Arkansas Meaning: Land of Downriver People Language: Quapaw Flickr | Luke Cureton California Meaning: Mythical Island Califia Language: Spanish Getty Images | Justin Sullivan Colorado Meaning: Sandstone Soil Language: Spanish Flickr | Docoverachiever Connecticut Meaning: The Long Tidal River Language: Mohican Getty Images | Spencer Platt Delaware Meaning: Of The War Language: Old French Flickr | Thomas James Caldwell Florida Meaning: Flowery Easter Language: Spanish Getty Images | Handout Georgia Meaning: Land of King George II Language: Greek Getty Images | Scott Cunningham Hawaii Meaning: Place of the Gods Language: Proto-Polynesian (Note: Other research shows that, in the Hawaiian language, Hawaii has no meaning. Unfortunately etymology, particularly in the case of state names, presents conflicting research. This is the case with Hawaii along with others on this list. The meaning listed here is in accordance with Expedia’s map and their research, which you can read more about here.) Getty Images | Darryl Oumi Idaho Meaning: Gem of the Mountains Language: Adaptation of Native American word from northwest origin Flickr | The Knowles Gallery Illinois Meaning: Best People Language: Derived from the Native American word, “Illiniwek” Flickr | szeke Indiana Meaning: Land of the Indians Language: Native American origin Flickr | Jim Bauer Iowa Meaning: This is the Place Language: Native American origin Flickr | TumblingRun RELATED: This Map Shows The Largest Company In Each State Kansas Meaning: People of the South Wind Language: Native American origin Flickr | Garett Gabriel Kentucky Meaning: The Meadow Language: Iroquois or Shawnee origin Getty Images | Andy Lyons Louisiana Meaning: King Louis XIV Language: French Getty Images | Mario Tam Maine Meaning: Mainland Language: French Getty Images | Justin Sullivan Maryland Meaning: Land of Queen Henrietta Maria Language: English Flickr | Charlie Stinchcomb Massachusetts Meaning: Near the Great-Little-Mountain Language: Native American origin Getty Images | William B. Plowman Michigan Meaning: Great Lake Language: Native American origin Minnesota Meaning: Milky Water Language: Siouan Flickr | Dougtone Mississippi Meaning: Great River Language: French Flickr | lordsutch Missouri Meaning: Dugout Canoe Language: Siouan Flickr | Francisco Diez Montana Meaning: Mountainous Language: Spanish Flickr | theogeo Nebraska Meaning: Flattened Water Language: Based on Oto Indian word “Nebrathka” Flickr | Dougtone Nevada Meaning: Snow-Covered Language: Spanish Getty Images | Ethan Miller New Hampshire Meaning: The New Hants Language: English Flickr | kla4067 New Jersey Meaning: Channel Island of Jersey Language: English Flickr | Dougtone New Mexico Meaning: New Place of Mexitli (Aztec God) Language: Aztec Flickr | _Gaspard_ New York Meaning: New Home of the Duke of York Language: English RELATED: This Map Shows How Much You Have To Earn To Afford Rent In Every State North Carolina Meaning: In Honor of King Charles I Language: From the Latin word for “Charles” Flickr | BlakeLewisPhotography North Dakota Meaning: North Ally Language: From the Sioux Native American word for “friend” Getty Images | Scott Olson Ohio Meaning: Good River Language: Iroquois Native American Flickr | James Duckworth Oklahoma Meaning: Red People Language: Choctaw Native American Flickr | zendt66 Oregon Meaning: Indian River Ouragon Language: French Flickr | Ray Bouknight Pennsylvania Meaning: Penns Woods Language: English Flickr | pepsiline Rhode Island Meaning: Red Island Language: Italian Flickr | davidwilson1949 South Carolina Meaning: In Honor of King Charles I Language: From the Latin word for “Charles” Flickr | Alistair Nicol South Dakota Meaning: South Ally Language: Sioux Native American Flickr | dean.franklin Tennessee Meaning: The Bends of a River Language: Native American origin Getty Images | Michael Shroyer Texas Meaning: Friend Language: Spanish Flickr | Daxis Utah Meaning: People of the Mountains Language: Spanish based on Ute Flickr | Matt Machin Vermont Meaning: Green Mountain Language: French Flickr | Richard Ricciardi Virginia Meaning: Country of the Virgin Language: English Flickr | TexasExplorer98 Washington Meaning: Home of the First President Language: English Flickr | MooseNut12 West Virginia Meaning: West of the Country of the Virgin Language: English Getty Images Wisconsin Meaning: River Running Through a Red Place Language: English/French/Native American Flickr | newagecrap RELATED: Here Are The Weirdest Roadside Attractions In Every State Wyoming Meaning: At the Big River Flat Language: Native American origin Flickr | Kyla Duhamel Updated 8/14/17 to better reflect the etymology of several state names and highlight the conflicting research that exists around the meanings of state names. (Sources: Simplemost and Expedia)

This Map Shows The Literal Translation Of State Names And Their Origins

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