Deep roots

12 Native American words that you use daily without even knowing it

English is a very welcoming language in the sense that it incorporates terms from many other languages from all over the world. And, as it couldn’t be otherwise, Native American languages have lent many of their words and terms to English speakers. Some traveled through Spanish or French before settling into English, and others arrived directly through early contact and trade, helping shape the way we speak today. Did you know about these 11 terms?

The word "canoe" comes from the Taino term canoa, which was first used by Caribbean islanders long before Europeans arrived. Early explorers adopted it to describe the slim, sturdy boats they saw.

Over time, "canoe" became the standard English word for a small paddled craft. Today it still carries that sense of simplicity and closeness to nature.

The word "barbecue" comes from barbacoa, another Taino term for a wooden frame used for cooking meat over fire. Europeans adopted it and applied it to both the method and the gathering itself.

Today, "barbecue" means everything from a backyard cookout to a regional cooking style. Its origins highlight the deep culinary influence of Native Americans in the nation's current culture.

"Skunk" comes from the Algonquian word squnk, which means "urinating fox" (quite a fitting term, indeed). This was an obvious reference to the animal’s strong defensive spray. Early settlers adopted the term directly.

Since English had no better name for the creature, the Native word stuck. Today, the word skunks is also used as playful slang.

The word "moose" originates from Eastern Abenaki, a part of the Algonquian family, where it meant "he strips off bark." Yes, it described the animal’s habit of tearing bark from trees.

The name entered English quickly because settlers relied on Native knowledge of local fauna. The word remains unchanged because of its accuracy and usefulness.

"Raccoon" comes from the Powhatan word arakun, meaning "he scratches with his hands." It described the animal’s clever, humanlike front paws.

Settlers adopted the term because it captured the creature’s behavior beautifully. Today, the raccoon is used as a household symbol of curiosity, not unlike the animal itself.

The term "chipmunk" most probably comes from the Ojibwe word ajidamoo, which means "one who descends trees headfirst." Early English settlers adapted the sound into today’s form.

Though the spelling changed over time, the lively image of a chipmunk racing down a tree face-first stayed.

The word "caribou" comes from the Mi’kmaq term qalipu, which means "snow shoveler," referring to the animal’s habit of digging through snow for food.

French settlers brought the word into English, keeping its descriptive nature. The name still connects the modern animal to the winter landscapes it belongs to.

"Totem" comes from the Ojibwe word ototeman, which means "kinship group." It described symbols representing clans and shared roots.

English adopted it to describe carved poles and symbolic elements. Though broader in modern usage, it still hints at the original sense of community, identity, and heritage.

"Coyote" comes from the Nahuatl word coyōtl, which was used by Indigenous tribes of central Mexico. Spanish speakers adopted it, and English borrowed later.

The word kept its meaning, and it remains one of the most direct links between the English language and Nahuatl.

The tasty avocado’s name traces to the Nahuatl word ahacatl, which refers to the fruit and to a body part as well. Spanish speakers transformed it into aguacate.

Later on, English speakers adapted it to avocado. While the name sounds contemporary and culinary, it has ancient Native roots.

The last Nahuatl word and also the last word on the list comes from the term xocolātl, which describes a bitter cacao drink that was consumed long before Europeans arrived in America. The name traveled from Spanish to English.

Though the product changed dramatically, the word survived. Today, chocolate is a universal symbol of sweetness, with rich and deeply indigenous roots.

NATURE’S TITANS

Mega Fauna: The 10 Largest Animals To Have Ever Lived

Image: Jordyn St. John

Once, true giants roamed the Earth, inhabiting a planet vastly different from the one we know today. If we could travel back in time, the world might seem almost unrecognizable. Yet, some of these colossal creatures existed not so long ago, and remarkably, a few of the largest animals to ever exist still live among us today! Let's embark on a journey through time and space to discover the 10 largest animals that have ever lived.

Image: Marvin Meyer

Surprisingly, the blue whale is the largest animal known to have ever existed. Measuring up to 100 feet in length and weighing as much as 200 tons, these gentle giants are true marvels of the ocean. Even the largest dinosaurs are dwarfed in comparison, putting the extraordinary nature of these magnificent ocean inhabitants in perspective.

Their heart alone can weigh as much as a car, and their tongue can be as heavy as an elephant. Despite their colossal size, blue whales feed primarily on tiny krill, marine crustaceans less than an inch long. To satiate their enormous bodies, blue whales have to consume up to four tons of krill daily during feeding season.

Image: Nicole Avagliano

The megalodon was an ancient species of mackerel shark that dominated the seas around 23 to 3.6 million years ago. Reaching lengths of up to 60 feet, it wasn't just the largest shark but also the largest fish to ever exist. Most estimates are based on tooth size, as a complete megalodon skeleton has never been recovered. In fact, the name megalodon means "large tooth," which is fitting given that its teeth could exceed seven inches in length.

With such formidable teeth, megalodon was certainly a top predator of the seas for millions of years. It preyed on large marine animals, including whales, using its powerful jaws to deliver a bite force far greater than that of any modern shark.

Image: Kafai Liu

Argentinosaurus was a titanic herbivorous dinosaur that roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous period. While their exact size is hard to estimate due to incomplete fossilized remains, it is widely considered one of the largest dinosaurs ever found. Reaching lengths of over 100 feet and weighing up to 100 tons, it could have even measured up to the mighty blue whale.

Moreover, it is likely that this massive sauropod's size was its best defense against predators. Its long neck allowed it to reach high vegetation, while its colossal legs supported its enormous weight. They are classified as titanosaurs, a class shared with other equally massive dinosaurs such as the Patagotitan and Puertasaurus.

Image: David Clode

Quetzalcoatlus, a pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous period, had an impressive wingspan of up to 36 feet, making it one of the largest flying creatures of all time. This formidable flying reptile likely soared over prehistoric landscapes, using thermal currents to glide efficiently.

This animal likely hunted on land, feeding on small vertebrates and carrion with the help of its long, toothless beak. And when on the ground, it may have stood taller than a giraffe at over 16 feet high, towering even over contemporary Tyrannosaurus, although the latter was far more massive.

Image: Marcus Löfvenberg

An animal right out of a sci-fi movie, Paraceratherium was a gigantic hornless rhinoceros that lived during the Oligocene epoch, around 30 million years ago. It stood about 16 feet tall at the shoulder and weighed around 20 tons.

Despite its size, this colossal animal was a peaceful herbivore that likely fed on leaves and soft plants, using its long neck to reach vegetation high in trees. Its size makes it one of the largest land mammals to ever exist.

Image: Arthur Shuraev

Dreadnoughtus, another colossal sauropod dinosaur, lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Measuring about 85 feet in length and weighing at least 50 tons, it earned its name from its immense size and perceived invincibility. In fact, the name Dreadnoughtus literally means "fears nothing," and is a nod to the dreadnought, a powerful class of battleship of the early twentieth century.

Regarded as one of the most massive land animals ever, Dreadnoughtus's full potential size remains uncertain. The largest specimen discovered was not fully grown when it died, leaving open the possibility that it could have surpassed other colossal competitors like Patagotitan and Argentinosaurus.

Image: Bernd Dittrich

Megatherium americanum, also known as the giant ground sloth, roamed South America during the Pleistocene epoch. Growing up to 20 feet in length and weighing as much as 4 tons, it was nothing like its modern relatives. Furthermore, Megatherium was terrestrial and primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, fruits, and possibly small prey.

Its massive claws and strong limbs helped it to strip vegetation and defend against predators when necessary. And despite its large size, the Megatherium is thought to have been capable of adopting a bipedal posture while standing, which allowed it to reach high-growing leaves or adopt a defensive position. Interestingly, the extinction of Megatherium around 10,000 years ago is believed to be due to a combination of climate change and early human presence on the American continent.

Image: Jacqueline Martinez

Leedsichthys, one of the largest fish known to have existed—only surpassed by the monstrous _Megalodon_—could grow up to 54 feet in length. This gentle giant swam the Earth’s oceans during the Middle Jurassic period, feeding on tiny shrimp, jellyfish, and small fish, much like modern baleen whales.

Its first fossilized remains were discovered in the 1880s by a farmer named Alfred Nicholson Leeds, who collected large fish fossils from loam pits near Peterborough, England. In fact, its scientific name, Leedsichthys, means "Leeds' fish," derived from the Greek ichthys, meaning "fish."

Image: Vish K

Deinosuchus, an ancient relative of modern crocodiles, lived during the Late Cretaceous period around 80 million years ago. It could grow up to 40 feet in length and weigh around 8 tons, making it one of the largest crocodilians to ever exist. Its name translates to"terrible crocodile," as with its powerful jaws and massive teeth, Deinosuchus was a formidable predator, capable of taking down even large dinosaurs.

Interestingly, fossil evidence suggests that despite its massive proportions, Deinosuchus bore a strong resemblance to its modern (and smaller) relatives. It featured large, robust teeth adapted for crushing, and its back was covered with thick, hemispherical osteoderms—armor-like bony structures found in most crocodilians.

Image: Meressa Chartrand

While most of the colossal creatures on this list are long gone, there are a few exceptions. The giant squid, scientifically known as Architeuthis, is one of the largest living invertebrates. These deep-sea dwellers can grow up to 43 feet in length, with some estimates suggesting they may reach up to 66 feet. Their long tentacles, equipped with suckers lined with sharp teeth, are used to capture prey like fish and other squid.

Despite their size, giant squids are elusive and rarely seen by humans. Most of our knowledge about them comes from specimens washed ashore or found in the stomachs of their primary predators and long-standing enemies, sperm whales.