Geographic Descriptors in Algonquian Place Names
Following are some examples of how syllabic descriptive phonemes are used in the construction of Algonquian place names, keeping in mind that there are, as always, questions of accuracy as well as alternative spellings and interpretations. My sources for this chart are William Bright (2004), Native American Placenames of the United States; R. Douglas Lithgow (2000), Native American Place Names of Massachusetts; Huden (1962), Indian Place Names of New England; Frank Waabu O’Brien (2010), Understanding Indian Place Names in Southern New England; and Myron Sleeper (1949), Indian Place Names in New England.
| Algonquian | Variations | Meaning | Examples | |
| adin | ahdin, aden | Mountain, hill, highland, height | Katahdin, Winniahdin. Monadnoc | |
| adum | ogum, ogun, ammun, bun | dune, bank, sand bar, gravel bar | Kennebunk, Ogunquit | |
| kenne- | kenni-, quine, quinni | long | Kennebec, Kennebunk | |
| quit | quet, ket | pool, lagoon | Ogunquit | |
| bec | bic, pec | quiet water | Kennebec | |
| ponqui | ponka | shallow | Ponkapau | |
| paug | pog, baug, boag | pond | Ponkapaug | |
| sau(k) | saco, saug | river outlet, estuary | Saugus, Winnipesauke, | |
| -s | -s-, -us, -es,
-ux- |
small, little | Saugus | |
| win | winni | vicinity (of), around, near | Winnipesauke,Winnebago, Winniahdin | |
| nebes | Bes, bis, bego, bago | lake | Winnebago | |
| -pe | -pe-, -pee, -ippi, -p | waters | Winnipesauke, Mashpee, Sunapee, Chicopee, Mississippi | |
| mash | ash, ashue | between | Mashpee | |
| sun | suna, assin, asson, assa | rocky | Sunapee | |
| chico | chica, chika | rapid | Chicopee | |
| mack | mac, maq, mic, mec, muck | river | Merrimack | |
| merri | mer, mur | deep; also sturgeon | Merrimack | |
| tuck | tuc, tik, tic, tick, tek(w) | tidal river or stream | Pawtucket, Pentucket, Mistick | |
| pa | paw, pau | falls | Pawtucket | |
| pen | pinna | winding, bending | Pentucket | |
| et | it, ut, ot, ott, -t | at, near, about
|
Pawtucket, Pentucket, Massachuset, Swampscott | |
| mass | massa, mash, messa | big, large | Massachuset | |
| hass | hassun, ashim, shim, asnun | stone, stoney | Cohasset | |
| co | coo, ko-, -co, -acco | continuous area, ongoing, abundant | Cohasset, Pennacook, Chebacco | |
| chebe- | cheba-, chebac, chappa- | separate, in between | Chebacco | |
| keag | keak, kik, ki, ke, -ik, -k, -ic, -oc, og | land, area, place | Amoskeag, Naumkeag, Pennacook | |
| namas | nemas, anam, anas, anis, nam, naum, na-, ne-, amo(s), amaug | fish, fishing | Naumkeag, Amoskeag | |
| mis | mish, mi, misi, missi, meshe | great (repeated = very great) | Mishawam, Mistick, Mississippi | |
| adchu | achu, watchu, chus | mountain | Massachuset, Wachuset | |
| shawm | shaum, shawam, shawom | neck of land, peninsula; also canoe landing | Shawmut, Mishawam | |
| squi | squa, swa, sw- | red | Swampscott | |
| ompsk | ompsc, ampsc | rock | Swampscott | |
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