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Erie language facts for kids

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Erie
Native to United States
Region south of Lake Erie
Ethnicity Erie people
Extinct 17th century
Language family
Iroquoian
  • Northern
    • Lake Iroquoian
      • Five Nations
        • Huronian
          • Erie
            • Erie
Linguist List qgl
Cat-Nation.png
Nation du Chat region

The Erie language was a language spoken by the Erie people, an Indigenous group from North America. It is thought to have been part of the Iroquoian language family, which includes languages like Mohawk and Cherokee. The Erie language was similar to the Wyandot language, also known as Huron. Sadly, we don't have many records of the Erie language, so experts are not completely sure about its exact details. It became extinct in the 17th century.

The names Erie and Eriez are actually shorter versions of Erielhonan. This longer name means "long tail," which was a way to describe the panthers that lived in the area. Because of this, the Erie people were often called the "Cat people." The French, who explored the region, called them Nation du Chat, meaning "Nation of the Cat."

Understanding the Erie Language

Even though the Erie language is no longer spoken, we can still find clues about it. One word that might have come from the Erie language is Chautauqua. This word is used for a famous lake and county in New York. Its exact meaning is not fully known, but it's believed to mean "a bag tied in the center" or "two moccasins tied together." This is an example of a loanword, which is a word adopted from one language into another.

Words and Their Meanings

Here are some words believed to be from the Erie language, along with their possible meanings:

  • Erielhonan (Long Tail)
  • Ronnongwetonwanca (Good Luck)
  • Kahqua (Kahkwa)
  • Gùkulëáwo (Wolf)
  • Chautauqua (A bag tied in the center/middle) or (Two moccasins tied together)

The Erie Alphabet

Because the Erie language was not well-documented, its alphabet is not fully known. However, based on what little information exists, it likely used sounds represented by these letters: Aa Áá Cc CHch Ee Ëë Gg Hh Ii Kk Ll Nn Oo Qq Rr Tt Uu Úú Ww

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Erie language Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.