Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Yukon” come from?

Yukon derives from Gwich'in chųų gąįį han, a phrase in the Athabaskan language Gwich'in whose literal meaning and ultimate sense development remain uncertain.

Ancestry of “Yukon”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Gwich'inųųg han—
2Gwich'inchųų gąįį hanwhite water river

Words derived from “Yukon”

  • Yukoner
  • yukonite
  • Yukon
Every word from Gwich'in chųų gąįį han →