List of English words from Indigenous languages of the Americas

This is a list of English language words borrowed from Indigenous languages of the Americas, either directly or through intermediate European languages such as Spanish or French. It does not cover names of ethnic groups or place names derived from Indigenous languages.

Most words of Native American/First Nations language origin are the common names for indigenous flora and fauna, or describe items of Native American or First Nations life and culture. Some few are names applied in honor of Native Americans or First Nations peoples or due to a vague similarity to the original object of the word. For instance, sequoias are named in honor of the Cherokee leader Sequoyah, who lived 2,000 miles (3,200 km) east of that tree's range, while the kinkajou of South America was given a name from the unrelated North American wolverine.

Words from Algonquian languages
Since Native Americans and First Nations peoples speaking a language of the Algonquian group were generally the first to meet English explorers and settlers along the Eastern Seaboard, many words from these languages made their way into English.

In addition, many place names in North America are of Algonquian origin, for example: Mississippi (cf. and misiziibi, "great river," referring to the Mississippi River) and Michigan (cf., Mishigami, "great sea," referring to Lake Michigan). Canadian provinces and U.S. states, districts, counties and municipalities bear Algonquian names, such as Québec, Ottawa, Saskatchewan, Nantucket, Massachusetts, Naugatuck, Connecticut, Wyoming, District of Keewatin, Outagamie County, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois, or Algonquian-derived names, such as Algoma.

Furthermore, some indigenous peoples of the Americas groups are known better by their Algonquian exonyms, rather than by their endonym, such as the Eskimo (see below), Winnebago (perhaps from ), Sioux (ultimately from ), Assiniboine (asiniibwaan) and Chipewyan (čīpwayān).


 * Apishamore (definition) : From a word in an Algonquian language meaning "something to lie down upon" (c.f. Ojibwe apishimon).
 * Atamasco lily (definition) : Earlier "attamusca", from Powhatan.
 * Babiche (definition) : From Míkmaq ápapíj (from ápapi, "cord, thread", Proto-Algonquian *aʔrapa·pyi, from *aʔrapy-, "net" + *-a·by-, "string".
 * Caribou (definition) : From Míkmaq qalipu, "snow-shoveler" (from qalipi, "shovel snow", Proto-Algonquian *maka·ripi-).
 * Caucus (definition) : The etymology is disputed: two possible sources are an Algonquian word for "counsel", 'cau´-cau-as´u'; or the Algonquian cawaassough, meaning an advisor, talker, or orator.
 * Chinkapin (definition) : From Powhatan chechinquamins, reconstituted as, the plural form.
 * Chipmunk (definition) : Originally "chitmunk," from Odawa jidmoonh (c.f. Ojibwe ajidamoo(nh)), "American red squirrel".
 * Cisco (definition) : Originally "siscowet," from Ojibwe language bemidewiskaawed "greasy-bodied [fish]".
 * Eskimo (definition) : From Old Montagnais aiachkimeou (modern ayassimēw), meaning "snowshoe-netter" (often incorrectly claimed to be from an Ojibwe word meaning "eaters of raw [meat]"), and originally used to refer to the Mikmaq.
 * Hackmatack (definition) : From an Algonquian language akemantak (c.f. Ojibwe aagimaandag), "snowshoe boughs".
 * Hickory (definition) : From Powhatan, "milky drink made with hickory nuts".
 * Hominy (definition) : From Powhatan /, literally "that which is treated", in this case "that which is ground/beaten".
 * Husky (definition) : Ultimately from a variant form of the word "Eskimo" (see above).
 * Kinkajou (definition) : From an Algonquian word meaning "wolverine" (c.f. Algonquin kwingwaage, Ojibwe gwiingwa'aage), through French quincajou.
 * Kinnikinnick (definition) : From Unami Delaware, "mixture" (c.f. Ojibwe giniginige "to mix something animate with something inanimate"), from Proto-Algonquian *kereken-, "mix (it) with something different by hand".
 * Mackinaw (definition) : From michilmackinac, from Menomini mishilimaqkināhkw, "be large like a snapping turtle", or from Ojibwe mishi-makinaak, "large snapping turtle" with French -ile-, "island".
 * Moccasin <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From an Algonquian language, perhaps Powhatan, reconstituted as (c.f. Ojibwe makizin, Míkmaq mɨkusun, from Proto-Algonquian *maxkeseni).
 * Moose <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Eastern Abenaki moz, reinforced by cognates from other Algonquian languages (e.g. Massachusett/Narragansett moos, Ojibwe moo(n)z, Lenape mus 'elk' ), from Proto-Algonquian *mo·swa.
 * Mugwump <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From "mugquomp", a shortening of Massachusett, "war chief" (Proto-Algonquian *memekwa·pe·wa, from *memekw-, "swift" + *-a·pe·, "man").
 * Muskellunge <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Ultimately from Ojibwe maashkinoozhe, "ugly pike" (c.f. ginoozhe, "pike").
 * Muskeg <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Cree maskēk, "swamp" (Proto-Algonquian *maškye·kwi).
 * Muskrat <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : A folk-etymologized reshaping of earlier "musquash", from Massachusett (c.f. Western Abenaki mòskwas), apparently from Proto-Algonquian *mo·šk, "bob (at the surface of the water)" + *-exkwe·-, "head" + a derivational ending).
 * Opossum <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Powhatan / /, "white dog-like animal", reconstituted as (c.f. Proto-Algonquian , "white dog").
 * Papoose <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Narragansett <papoòs> or Massachusett, "baby".
 * Pecan <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Illinois pakani (c.f. Ojibwe bagaan), "nut", from Proto-Algonquian *paka·ni.
 * Pemmican <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Cree pimihkān, from pimihkēw, "to make grease" (Proto-Algonquian *pemihke·wa, from *pemy-, "grease" + -ehke·, "to make").
 * Persimmon <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Powhatan /, reconstituted as . While the final element reflects Proto-Algonquian *-min, "fruit, berry", the initial is unknown.
 * Pipsissewa <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Abenaki kpipskwáhsawe, "flower of the woods".
 * Pokeweed <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Probably from "puccoon" (see below) + "weed".
 * Pone <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Powhatan /, "something roasted" (reconstituted as ) (c.f. Ojibwe abwaan), from Proto-Algonquian *apwa·n.
 * Powwow <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Narragansett powwaw, "shaman" (Proto-Algonquian *pawe·wa, "to dream, to have a vision").
 * Puccoon <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Powhatan, reconstituted as (c.f. Unami Delaware , 'red dye; the plant from which dye is made').
 * Pung: A low box-like sleigh designed for one horse. Shortened form of "tom-pung" (from the same etymon as "toboggan") from an Algonquian language of Southern New England.
 * Punkie <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Via Dutch, from Munsee (Proto-Algonquian *penkwehsa, from *penkw-, "dust, ashes" + *-ehs, a diminutive suffix).
 * Quahog <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Narragansett <poquaûhock>.
 * Quonset hut <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From an Algonquian language of southern New England, possibly meaning "small long place" (with <qunni->, "long" + <-s->, diminutive + <-et>, locative).
 * Raccoon <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Powhatan /, tentatively reconstituted as.
 * Sachem <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From an Algonquian language of southern New England, c.f. Narragansett <sâchim> (Proto-Eastern Algonquian *sākimāw, "chief").
 * Sagamore <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Eastern Abenaki sakəma (c.f. Narragansett <sâchim> ), "chief", from Proto-Eastern Algonquian *sākimāw.
 * Scup <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Shortened from scuppaug, which is from Narragansett mishcùppaûog.
 * Shoepac <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Unami Delaware "shoes" (singular ), altered on analogy with English "shoe".
 * Skunk <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Massachusett (Proto-Algonquian *šeka·kwa, from *šek-, "to urinate" + *-a·kw, "fox").
 * Squash (fruit) <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Narragansett <askútasquash>.
 * Squaw <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Massachusett (c.f. Cree iskwē, Ojibwe ikwe), "woman", from Proto-Algonquian *eθkwe·wa.
 * Succotash <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Narragansett <msíckquatash>, "boiled whole kernels of corn" (Proto-Algonquian *mesi·nkwete·wari, singular *mesi·nkwete·, from *mes-, "whole" + *-i·nkw-, "eye [=kernel]" + -ete·, "to cook").
 * Tabagie <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Algonquin tabaguia.
 * Tautog <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Narragansett tautaũog.
 * Terrapin <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Originally "torope," from an Eastern Algonquian language, perhaps Powhatan (reconstituted as ) (c.f. Munsee Delaware ), from Proto-Eastern Algonquian *tōrəpēw.
 * Toboggan <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Míkmaq topaqan or Maliseet-Passamaquoddy (Proto-Algonquian *weta·pye·kani, from *wet-, "to drag" + *-a·pye·-, "cordlike object" + *-kan, "instrument for").
 * Tomahawk <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Powhatan (Proto-Algonquian *temaha·kani, from *temah-, "to cut" + *-a·kan, "instrument for").
 * Totem <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Ojibwe nindoodem, "my totem" or odoodeman, "his totem," referring to a kin group.
 * Tuckahoe <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Powhatan / /, "root used for bread", reconstituted as (perhaps from Proto-Algonquian *takwah-, "pound (it)/reduce (it) to flour").
 * Tullibee <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Old Ojibwe (modern odoonibii).
 * Wampum <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Earlier "wampumpeag", from Massachusett, and meaning "white strings [of beads]" (c.f. Maliseet: wapapiyik, Eastern Abenaki wápapəyak, Ojibwe waabaabiinyag), from Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-, "white" + *-a·py-, "string-like object" + *-aki, plural.
 * Wanigan <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Ojibwa waanikaan, "storage pit".
 * Wapiti (elk) <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Shawnee waapiti, "white rump" (c.f. Ojibwe waabidiy), from Proto-Algonquian *wa·petwiya, from *wa·p-, "white" + *-etwiy, "rump".
 * Wickiup <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Fox wiikiyaapi, from the same Proto-Algonquian etymon as "wigwam" (see below).
 * Wigwam <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Eastern Abenaki wìkəwam (c.f. Ojibwe wiigiwaam), from Proto-Algonquian *wi·kiwa·Hmi.
 * Woodchuck <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Reshaped on analogy with "wood" and "chuck", from an Algonquian language of southern New England (c.f. Narragansett, "woodchuck").

Words from Nahuatl

 * Unless otherwise specified, Dictionnaire de la langue nahuatl classique is among the sources used for each etymology

Words of Nahuatl origin have entered many European languages. Mainly they have done so via Spanish. Most words of Nahuatl origin end in a form of the Nahuatl "absolutive suffix" (-tl, -tli, or -li, or the Spanish adaptation -te), which marked unpossessed nouns.


 * Achiote <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from āchiotl
 * Atlatl <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from ahtlatl
 * Atole <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from atōlli
 * Avocado <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from āhuacatl, 'avocado' or 'testicle', via Spanish aguacate and later avocado (influenced by early Spanish abogado 'lawyer')
 * Axolotl <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : āxōlōtl, via Spanish, ultimately from ā-, 'water' + xōlōtl, 'male servant'
 * Aztec <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from aztecatl 'coming from Aztlan', via Spanish Azteca
 * Cacao <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) and Cocoa <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from cacahuatl
 * Chayote <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from chayohtli
 * Chia <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from chiyan
 * Chicle <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from tzictli
 * Chili <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from chīlli
 * Chipotle <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from chilpoctli 'smoked chili', from chili + poctli 'smoke'
 * Chocolate <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Often said to be from Nahuatl xocolātl or chocolātl, which would be derived from xococ 'bitter' and ātl 'water' (with an irregular change of x to ch). However, the form xocolātl is not directly attested, and chocolatl does not appear in Nahuatl until the mid-18th century. Some researchers have recently proposed that the chocol- element was originally chicol-, and referred to a special wooden stick used to prepare chocolate.
 * Copal <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from copalli
 * Coyote <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from coyōtl via Spanish
 * Epazote <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from epazōtl
 * Guacamole <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from āhuacamōlli, from āhuaca-, 'avocado', and mōlli, 'sauce', via Mexican Spanish
 * Hoatzin <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from huāctzin
 * Jicama <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from xicamatl
 * Mesquite <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from mizquitl, via Spanish mezquite
 * Mezcal <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from mexcalli metl   and ixcalli   which mean 'oven cooked agave.'
 * Mole <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from mōlli, 'sauce'
 * Nixtamalization <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from nixtamalli
 * Nopal <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from nohpalli, 'prickly pear cactus', via American Spanish
 * Ocelot <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from ocēlōtl 'jaguar', via French
 * Ocotillo <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from ocotl 'pine, torch made of pine', via Mexican Spanish ocote + diminutive -illo
 * Peyote <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from peyōtl . Nahuatl probably borrowed the root peyō- from another language, but the source is not known.
 * Pinole <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from pinolli, via Spanish
 * Quetzal <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from quetzalli, 'quetzal feather'.
 * Sapodilla <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from tzapocuahuitl
 * Sapota <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from tzapotl
 * Shack <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : possibly from xahcalli, 'grass hut', by way of Mexican Spanish.
 * Sotol <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from tzotolli
 * Tamale <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from tamalli, via Spanish tamal. The Spanish plural is tamales, and the English derives from a false singular tamale.
 * Tequila: from téquitl 'work' + tlan 'place'
 * Tlacoyo <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from tlahtlaōyoh
 * Tomato <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from tomatl, via Spanish tomate. The change from tomate to tomato was likely influenced by the spelling of potato
 * Tule <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from tōllin, 'reed, bulrush'

Words from Quechua

 * Unless otherwise specified, Words in English from Amerindian Languages is among the sources used for each etymology

A number of words from Quechua have entered English, mostly via Spanish, adopting Hispanicized spellings.


 * Ayahuasca <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from aya "corpse" and waska "rope", via Spanish ayahuasca
 * Cachua <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from qhachwa
 * Chinchilla<small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : possibly from Quechua. May be from Spanish chinche
 * Chuño <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from ch'uñu
 * Coca <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from kuka, via Spanish coca
 * Cocaine <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from kuka (see above), probably via French cocaïne
 * Condor <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from kuntur, via Spanish cóndor
 * Gran Chaco <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from chaku, "hunt"
 * Guanaco <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from wanaku
 * Guano <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from wanu via Spanish guano
 * Inca <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Inka "lord, king"
 * Jerky <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from ch'arki, via Spanish charquí
 * Lagniappe <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from yapay, "add, addition", via Spanish la yapa (with the definite article la).
 * Lima <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from rimay, "speak" (from the name of the city, named for the Rimaq river ("speaking river"))
 * Llama <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from llama, via Spanish
 * Lucuma <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from lukuma, via Spanish
 * Mashua <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from maswa
 * Pampa <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from pampa, "a large plain", via Spanish
 * Pisco <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from pisqu, "bird"
 * Puma <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from puma, via Spanish
 * Quinine <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from kinakina, via Spanish quina
 * Quinoa <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from kinwa, via Spanish quinoa
 * Quipu <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from khipu, via Spanish quipo
 * Soroche <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from suruqchi or suruqch'i, "Altitude sickness"
 * Vicuña <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from wik'uña, via Spanish vicuña
 * Viscacha <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from wisk'acha, via Spanish vizcacha

Words from Eskaleut languages

 * Anorak <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Greenlandic Inuit annoraaq
 * Chimo <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from the Inuktitut word saimo (ᓴᐃᒧ, a word of greeting, farewell, and toast before drinking. Used as a greeting and cheer by the Canadian Military Engineers, and more widely in some parts of Southern Ontario and Western Canada, particularly in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
 * Igloo <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Inuktitut iglu (ᐃᒡᓗ )
 * Ilanaaq <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Inuktitut ilanaaq (ᐃᓚᓈᒃ ), "friend". Name of the logo for the 2010 Winter Olympics
 * Inuksuk <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Inuktitut inuksuk (ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ )
 * Kayak <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Inuktitut qajaq (ᖃᔭᖅ )
 * Malamute <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Inupiaq Malimiut, the name of an Inupiaq subgroup
 * Mukluk <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Yupik maklak, "bearded seal"
 * Nanook <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Inuktitut word for polar bear Nanuq (ᓇᓄᒃ ), "polar bear", made famous in English due to a 1922 documentary Nanook of the North, featuring a man with this name.
 * Nunatak <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Greenlandic Inuit  nunataq
 * Tiktaalik <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Inuktitut tiktaalik (ᑎᒃᑖᓕᒃ ), "large freshwater fish"
 * Umiaq <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition)

Words from Arawakan languages

 * Anole <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from an Arawakan language, or possibly Cariban, via French anolis.
 * Barbecue <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from an Arawakan language of Haiti barbakoa, "framework of sticks", via Spanish barbacoa.
 * Buccaneer <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from an Arawakan language buccan, "a wooden frame on which Taínos and Caribs slowly roasted or smoked meat", via French boucane.
 * Cacique or cassique <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno cacike or Arawak kassequa "chieftain"
 * Caiman <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from a Ta-Maipurean language, "water spirit" (c.f. Garifuna ),  though possibly ultimately of African origin.
 * Canoe <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno via Spanish canoa.
 * Cassava <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno caçabi, "manioc meal", via Spanish or Portuguese.
 * Cay <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno, via Spanish cayo.
 * Guaiac <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno guayacan via Spanish and Latin.
 * Guava <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from an Arawakan language, by way of Spanish guayaba.
 * Hammock <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno, via Spanish hamaca.
 * Hurricane <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno hurakán, via Spanish.
 * Iguana <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from an Arawakan language iwana.
 * Macana <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno macana via Spanish.
 * Maize <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno mahís, via Spanish.
 * Mangrove <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno, via Spanish mangle or Portuguese mangue.
 * Papaya <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno.
 * Potato <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno or Haitian Carib batata 'sweet potato', via Spanish patata.
 * Savanna <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno zabana, via Spanish.
 * Tobacco <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : probably from an Arawakan language, via tabaco.
 * Yuca <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Taíno, via Spanish.

Words from Tupi-Guaraní

 * Acai <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupi *ɨβasaí, via Brazilian Portuguese assaí, uaçaí, açaí.
 * Ani <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupi *anúʔí.
 * Agouti <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupi–Guaraní akutí, via Portuguese aguti through French.
 * Cashew <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupí acaîu, via Portuguese caju.
 * Capybara <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Guaraní kapibári 'the grass eater ' via Portuguese capivara through French.
 * Catupiry <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Guaraní katupyry via Brazilian Portuguese.
 * Cayenne <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupí kyinha via French.
 * Cougar <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : ultimately corrupted from Guaraní guaçu ara.
 * Jaguar <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupinambá via Portuguese jaguar through French ,.
 * Jaguarundi <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Guaraní via Portuguese.
 * Maraca <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupí maraka via Portuguese.
 * Macaw <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : via Portuguese Macau from Tupi macavuana, which may be the name of a type of palm tree the fruit of which the birds eat.
 * Manioc <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupinambá via Portuguese man(d)ioca through French.
 * Petunia <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupí petun 'smoke' via Portuguese.
 * Piranha <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupí pirã́ja, pirã́nʸa, from pirá 'fish' + ã́ja, ã́nʸa 'tooth', via Portuguese.
 * Seriema <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) :from Tupinambá siriema 'the crested one' via Portuguese
 * Tapioca <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupinambá 'juice squeezed out', from tipi 'residue, dregs' + og, ok 'to squeeze out', via Portuguese.
 * Tapir <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupinambá via Portuguese tapir through French.
 * Tegu <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupinambá teiú-guaçú 'big lizard' via Portuguese teiú
 * Toucan <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Tupinambá via Portuguese tucano through French, via Portuguese and French.

Words from other indigenous languages of the Americas

 * Abalone <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Rumsen awlun and Ohlone aluan, via Spanish abulón.
 * Alpaca <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Aymara allpaka, via Spanish.
 * Appaloosa <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Either named for the Palouse River, whose name comes from Sahaptin palú:s, "what is standing up in the water"; or for Opelousas, Louisiana, which may come from Choctaw api losa, "black body".
 * Barracuda <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Spanish, perhaps originally from Carib.
 * Bayou <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from early Choctaw bayuk, "creek, river", via French.
 * Camas <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Nez Perce .
 * Cannibal <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : via Spanish Caníbalis, from a Cariban language, meaning "person, Indian", (Proto-Cariban *karípona), based on the Spaniards' belief that the Caribs ate human flesh.
 * Catalpa <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Creek katałpa "head-wing", with (i)ká, "head" + (i)táłpa, "wing".
 * Cenote <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Yucatec Maya dzonot or ts'onot meaning "well".
 * Cheechako <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Chinook Jargon chee + chako, "new come". Chee comes from Lower Chinook čxi, "straightaway", and for chako c.f. Nuuchahnulth čokwaa, "come!"
 * Chicha: via Spanish from Kuna chichab, "maize" or from Nahuatl chichiatl, "fermented water."
 * Chinook <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Lower Chehalis, the name of a village, via Chinook Trade Jargon.


 * Chuckwalla <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Cahuilla čáxwal.
 * Coho <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Halkomelem k̉ʷə́xʷəθ.
 * Coontie <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Creek conti hetaka.
 * Coypu <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Mapudungun coipu, via American Spanish coipú.
 * Degu <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Mapudungun deuñ, via Spanish.
 * Divi-divi <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Cumanagoto.
 * Dory <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Miskito dóri, dúri.
 * Eulachon <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from a Cree adaptation of Chinook Trade Jargon ulâkân, itself a borrowing of Clatsap u-tlalxwə(n), "brook trout".
 * Gaucho <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : via Spanish, probably from a South American indigenous language, cf. Araucanian cauchu 'wanderer'.
 * Geoduck <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Lushootseed (Nisqually) gʷídəq.
 * Guan <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Kuna kwama.
 * High muckamuck <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Chinook Jargon, "eat, food, drink", of unknown origin.
 * Hogan <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Navajo hooghan.
 * Hooch <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : a shortening of "Hoochinoo", the name of a Tlingit village, from Tlingit xutsnuuwú, "brown bear fort".


 * Kachina <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Hopi katsína, "spirit being".
 * Jojoba <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : via Spanish, from some Uto-Aztecan language, cf. O'odham hohowai and Yaqui hohoovam.
 * Kiva <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Hopi kíva (containing ki-, "house").
 * Kokanee <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : perhaps from Twana kəknǽxw.
 * Manatee <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : via Spanish manatí, from a word in a Cariban language meaning "(woman's) breast".
 * Ohunka: from Lakota "false", "untrue".
 * Peccary <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Galilbi Carib pakira.
 * Piki <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Hopi.
 * Pogonip <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Shoshone, "fog".
 * Poncho <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Mapudungun pontho "woolen fabric", via Spanish.
 * Potlatch <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Nuuchahnulth (Nootka) p̉aƛp̉ač (, reduplication of p̉a, "to make ceremonial gifts in potlatch", with the iterative suffix -č) via Chinook Jargon.


 * Salal <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Chinook Trade Jargon, from Lower Chinook salál.
 * Saguaro <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : via Spanish, from some indigenous language, possibly Opata.
 * Sasquatch <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : From Halkomelem.
 * Sego <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Ute-Southern Paiute.
 * Sequoia <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from a Cherokee personal name, <Sikwayi>, with no further known etymology.
 * Sockeye <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Halkomelem.
 * Skookum <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Chinook Jargon, "powerful, supernaturally dangerous", from Lower Chehalis skʷəkʷə́m, "devil, anything evil, spirit monster".
 * Tamarin <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from a Cariban language, via French.
 * Tipi <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Lakota thípi, "house".
 * Tupelo <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : Perhaps from Creek ’topilwa, "swamp-tree", from íto, "tree" + opílwa, "swamp".
 * Wapatoo <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Chinook Jargon, "arrowroot, wild potato", from Upper Chinook , a noun prefix + , which comes from Kalapuyan , "wild potato".
 * Wakinyan <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Lakota wa, "people/things" + kiŋyaŋ, "to fly".
 * Yaupon <small style="font-weight:normal">(definition) : from Catawba yąpą, from yą, "wood/tree" + pą, "leaf".