Etymology Explorer › Portuguese

Where does “Chicago” come from?

Chicago (Portuguese) comes from English Chicago, from French Chécagou, from Miami šikaakwa, from Proto-Algonquian šeka·kwa, from Proto-Algonquian šek- — to urinate.

Ancestry of “Chicago”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishChicago—
2FrenchChécagou—
3Miamišikaakwa—
4Proto-Algonquianšeka·kwaskunk
5Proto-Algonquianšek-to urinate
Every word from Proto-Algonquian šek- →