Erie language facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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
Nation du Chat region

Erie was believed to have been an Iroquoian language spoken by the Erie people, similar to Wyandot. But it was poorly documented, and linguists are not certain that this conclusion is correct. There have been no known connections between the Erie People and Europeans, besides the French.

The names Erie and Eriez are shortened forms of Erielhonan, meaning "long tail", referring to local panthers. The Erie were called the "Cat people" (Nation du Chat in French; Hodge 1910, Swanton).

At least one loanword survives from the Erie language: Chautauqua, a word of uncertain definition/translation.

Translation of words

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

Uncertain Alphabet

Aa Áá Cc CHch Ee Ëë Gg Hh Ii Kk Ll Nn Oo Qq Rr Tt Uu Úú Ww