English

Map of US highlighting Illinois

Proper noun

Illinois

1. A state of the United States of America. Capital: Springfield. Largest city: Chicago.
2. A tribe who formerly inhabited the region between the Wabash and Mississippi rivers.
3. The language spoken by this tribe, the Miami-Illinois language.
   • 1917, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, page 91:

     Another interesting Illinois word is the name of the celebrated chief, which the French made Chachagouache.

   • 2004, Sandy Nestor, Indian Placenames in America, volume 1, page 61:

     PISTAKEE LAKE (Lake) Part of the Chain of Lakes, Pistakee is an Illinois word taken from pestekouy, meaning "buffalo"[.]

   • 2005, Jennifer Lee, The Illinois Confederacy of Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, ..., page 5:

     These words are believed to have come from the Illinois word "irenweewa," which meant "he speaks in the ordinary way."

   • 2013, Brett Rushforth, Bonds of Alliance: Indigenous and Atlantic Slaveries, page 56:

     Another Illinois word describing physical detention, kikiȣnakiȣi, meant “slave” in the seventeenth century, but in modern usage the root has softened into a meaning that suggests being detained, held up, or merely running late.

Derived terms

• IL
• Illinoisan

Translations

Noun

Illinois ‎(plural Illinois)

1. A member of the above-mentioned tribe.

See also

• Appendix:Place names in Illinois

Danish

Etymology

Borrowing from English Illinois.

Proper noun

Illinois ‎(genitive Illinois')

1. Illinois

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ilinwa/

Proper noun

Illinois m

1. Illinois

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowing from English Illinois.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˌi.li.ˈnɔj/

Proper noun

Illinois m

1. Illinois (a state of the United States)

Spanish

Proper noun

Illinois m

1. Illinois

See also

• Illinois on the Spanish Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^es