Illinois

See also: illinois and Illinois'

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Miami ilenweewader.

Algonquiander.

French Illinoisbor.

English Illinois

From French Illinois, an adaptation of an Algonquian (perhaps Ojibwe) name derived from Miami ilenweewa (“he speaks the regular way”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/, /ˌɪlɪˈnɔɪ/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

    • (nonstandard) IPA^(key): /ˌɪləˈnɔɪz/
• Hyphenation: Il‧lin‧ois

Proper noun

Illinois

2. A state of the United States, named for the people.
   • 2018 May 10, Stephen Dinan, “Half of all Americans now live in ‘sanctuaries’ protecting immigrants”, in The Washington Times‎^[2]:

     Entire states such as California, Illinois and New York are now sanctuaries, as well as major cities and counties such as Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and the District of Columbia in the capital region, according to the list.

   • 2024 February 7, Edward-Isaac Dovere, “Harris set to host Democratic governors this weekend to discuss 2024 campaign”, in CNN‎^[3]:

     On the invitation list: Govs. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Tim Walz of Minnesota, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Wes Moore of Maryland and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico.

   • 2025 September 12, Nicole Acevedo, “A person is killed and an ICE agent injured at an immigration arrest near Chicago”, in NBC News‎^[4]:

     Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois said in a social media post that he is “aware of the troubling incident that has unfolded in Franklin Park.”

3. A confederation of Algonquian tribes who lived in the Mississippi River Valley.
4. The Algonquian language spoken by these tribes; the Miami-Illinois language.
   • 1917, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, page 91:

     Another interesting Illinois word is the name of the celebrated chief, which the French made Chachagouache.

   • 2004, Sandy Nestor, Indian Placenames in America, volume 1, page 61:

     PISTAKEE LAKE (Lake) Part of the Chain of Lakes, Pistakee is an Illinois word taken from pestekouy, meaning "buffalo"[.]

   • 2005, Jennifer Lee, The Illinois Confederacy of Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, ..., page 5:

     These words are believed to have come from the Illinois word "irenweewa," which meant "he speaks in the ordinary way."

   • 2013, Brett Rushforth, Bonds of Alliance: Indigenous and Atlantic Slaveries, page 56:

     Another Illinois word describing physical detention, kikiȣnakiȣi, meant “slave” in the seventeenth century, but in modern usage the root has softened into a meaning that suggests being detained, held up, or merely running late.

5. A number of rivers in the United States:
   2. A river in the United States that flows from Grundy County, Illinois, into the Mississippi River.
   3. A river in Colorado, United States that flows from the Never Summer Mountains in the Rockies into the Michigan River.
   4. A river in Oklahoma, United States that flows from the Ozarks into the Arkansas River.
   5. A river in Oregon, United States that flows from the southwestern corner of the state into the Rogue River.
6. A number of townships in the United States:
   1. A township in Pope County, Arkansas, United States.
   2. A township in Washington County, Arkansas.
   3. A township in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States.
8. Ellipsis of University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

   Coordinate terms: Illinois State, ISU (not to be confused)

Derived terms

• IL
• illinium
• Illinoian
• Illinoisan
• Illinoisian
• Illinois nut

Translations

a state of the United States of America

• Catalan: Illinois m
• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 伊利諾 / 伊利诺 (ji¹ lei⁶ nok⁶)州 (zau¹), 伊利诺 (ji¹ lei⁶ nok⁶)州 (ji¹ lei⁶ nok⁶ zau¹)

  Mandarin: 伊利諾伊 / 伊利诺伊 (zh) (Yīlìnuòyī)州 (zh) (zhōu), 伊利诺伊 (zh) (Yīlìnuòyī)州 (zh) (Yīlìnuòyī zhōu); 伊利諾 / 伊利诺 (zh) (Yīlìnuò)州 (zh) (zhōu), 伊利诺 (zh) (Yīlìnuò)州 (zh) (Yīlìnuò zhōu)

• Czech: Illinois (cs)
• Danish: Illinois
• Esperanto: Ilinojo
• Finnish: Illinois (fi)
• French: Illinois (fr) m
• Galician: Illinois (gl) m
• Georgian: ილინოისი (ilinoisi)
• German: Illinois (de)
• Greek: Ιλλινόις (Illinóis)
• Haitian Creole: Ilinwa
• Hebrew: אילינוי (he) m (Illinoy)
• Hindi: इलिनॉय m (ilinŏy), इलिनॉयस m (ilinŏyas)
• Hungarian: Illinois (hu)
• Italian: Illinois (it) m, Illinese m (obsolete)
• Japanese: イリノイ (Irinoi)
• Khmer: អ៊ីលីណយ (ʼiiliinɑɑy)
• Korean: 일리노이 (Illinoi)
• Lao: ອັລລິນອຍສ໌ (ʼan lin ʼa nyas), ອີລິນອຍ (ʼī lin ʼa nya)
• Latvian: Ilinoja f
• Limburgish: Illinois
• Macedonian: Илино́ис m (Ilinóis)
• Marathi: इलिनॉय (ilinŏy)
• Navajo: Ílínóo hahoodzo
• Occitan: Illinois (oc) m
• Ojibwe: Ininiwakiing
• Ottawa: Ninwakiing
• Polish: Illinois (pl) n
• Portuguese: Illinois (pt) m
• Punjabi: ਇਲੀਨਾਏ (ilīnāē)
• Russian: Иллино́йс (ru) m (Illinójs)
• Spanish: Illinois (es) m, Illinés m (obsolete)
• Thai: อิลลินอยส์ (in-lí-nɔɔi)
• Turkish: Illinois
• Ukrainian: Ілліно́йс m (Illinójs), Ілліно́й (Illinój) (mostly by Ukrainian diaspora)
• Vietnamese: I-li-noi
• Walloon: Ilinwès
• Yiddish: אילינאָי (ilinoy), אילינוי (ilinoy)

language

• French: illinois (fr) m

Noun

Illinois (plural Illinois)

1. A member of the above-mentioned tribe.

   Synonym: Illinese (obsolete)

Translations

member of the Illinois Confederacy

• French: Illinois (fr) m, Illinoise (fr) f
• German: Illinese m, Illinesin f
• Italian: illinese m or f
• Korean: 일리노이 (Illinoi)
• Ojibwe: Ininiwe n
• Ottawa: Ninwe n
• Spanish: illinés m, illinesa f

Adjective

Illinois

1. Of or relating to the Illinois Confederacy, its people or its culture.

   Synonym: Illinese (obsolete)

Translations

of or relating to the Illinois Confederacy

• French: illinois (fr)
• Italian: illinese
• Spanish: illinés

Anagrams

• illision

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from English Illinois, from French Illinois.

Proper noun

Illinois (genitive Illinois')

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)

Finnish

Etymology

Borrowed from English Illinois, from French Illinois.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈilːinoi̯s/, [ˈilːino̞i̯s̠]
• Rhymes: -ilːinois
• Syllabification^(key): Il‧li‧nois
• Hyphenation^(key): Il‧li‧nois

Proper noun

Illinois

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)

Declension

Inflection of Illinois (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		Illinois	—
genitive		Illinoisin	—
partitive		Illinoisia	—
illative		Illinoisiin	—
		singular	plural
nominative		Illinois	—
accusative	nom.	Illinois	—
	gen.	Illinoisin
genitive		Illinoisin	—
partitive		Illinoisia	—
inessive		Illinoisissa	—
elative		Illinoisista	—
illative		Illinoisiin	—
adessive		Illinoisilla	—
ablative		Illinoisilta	—
allative		Illinoisille	—
essive		Illinoisina	—
translative		Illinoisiksi	—
abessive		Illinoisitta	—
instructive		—	—
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Illinois (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Illinoisini — accusative nom. Illinoisini — gen. Illinoisini genitive Illinoisini — partitive Illinoisiani — inessive Illinoisissani — elative Illinoisistani — illative Illinoisiini — adessive Illinoisillani — ablative Illinoisiltani — allative Illinoisilleni — essive Illinoisinani — translative Illinoisikseni — abessive Illinoisittani — instructive — — comitative — — second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Illinoisisi — accusative nom. Illinoisisi — gen. Illinoisisi genitive Illinoisisi — partitive Illinoisiasi — inessive Illinoisissasi — elative Illinoisistasi — illative Illinoisiisi — adessive Illinoisillasi — ablative Illinoisiltasi — allative Illinoisillesi — essive Illinoisinasi — translative Illinoisiksesi — abessive Illinoisittasi — instructive — — comitative — — first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Illinoisimme — accusative nom. Illinoisimme — gen. Illinoisimme genitive Illinoisimme — partitive Illinoisiamme — inessive Illinoisissamme — elative Illinoisistamme — illative Illinoisiimme — adessive Illinoisillamme — ablative Illinoisiltamme — allative Illinoisillemme — essive Illinoisinamme — translative Illinoisiksemme — abessive Illinoisittamme — instructive — — comitative — — second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Illinoisinne — accusative nom. Illinoisinne — gen. Illinoisinne genitive Illinoisinne — partitive Illinoisianne — inessive Illinoisissanne — elative Illinoisistanne — illative Illinoisiinne — adessive Illinoisillanne — ablative Illinoisiltanne — allative Illinoisillenne — essive Illinoisinanne — translative Illinoisiksenne — abessive Illinoisittanne — instructive — — comitative — — third-person possessor singular plural nominative Illinoisinsa — accusative nom. Illinoisinsa — gen. Illinoisinsa genitive Illinoisinsa — partitive Illinoisiaan Illinoisiansa — inessive Illinoisissaan Illinoisissansa — elative Illinoisistaan Illinoisistansa — illative Illinoisiinsa — adessive Illinoisillaan Illinoisillansa — ablative Illinoisiltaan Illinoisiltansa — allative Illinoisilleen Illinoisillensa — essive Illinoisinaan Illinoisinansa — translative Illinoisikseen Illinoisiksensa — abessive Illinoisittaan Illinoisittansa — instructive — — comitative — —

French

Etymology

An adaptation of an Algonquian (perhaps Ojibwe) name derived from Miami ilenweewa (“he speaks the regular way”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i.li.nwa/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio (France (Vosges)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Somain)):

  (file)

Noun

Illinois m (invariable, feminine Illinoise)

1. Illinois, Illinese (member of the Illinois Confederation)

Proper noun

Illinois m

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)

Related terms

• illinois

Descendants

• Haitian Creole: Ilinwa
• → English: Illinois, Illinese (see there for further descendants)
• → German: Illinese
• → Italian: illinese, Illinese
• → Spanish: illinés, Illinés
• → Walloon: Ilinwès

German

Etymology

From French Illinois, chiefly through English Illinois.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪliˌnɔʏ̯/
• IPA^(key): /ˌɪliˈnɔʏ̯/ (probably less common)

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

  (unclear which stress pattern is used)

Proper noun

Illinois n (proper noun, genitive Illinois' or (with an article) Illinois)

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)

Related terms

• Illinese

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English Illinois, from French Illinois.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /il.liˈnɔjs/
• Rhymes: -ɔjs
• Hyphenation: Il‧li‧nòis

Proper noun

Illinois m

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)

   Synonym: Illinese (obsolete)

Related terms

• illinese
• Illinese

Polish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English Illinois, from French Illinois, an adaptation of an Algonquian name derived from Miami ilenweewa (“he speaks the regular way”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iˈli.nɔj/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -inɔj
• Syllabification: I‧lli‧nois

Proper noun

Illinois n (indeclinable)

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)

   pieczęć Illinois ― seal of Illinois

   To w stanie Illinois karierę polityczną rozpoczął Abraham Lincoln. ― It was in Illinois that Abraham Lincoln began his political career.

2. Illinois, Illinois River (a river in the United States that flows from Grundy County, Illinois, into the Mississippi River)

   Rzeka Illinois uchodzi do Missisipi. ― The Illinois River flows into the Mississippi.

Further reading

• “Illinois”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[5] (in Polish)

Portuguese

Etymology

Etymology tree

Miami ilenweewader.

Algonquiander.

French Illinoisbor.

English Illinoisubor.

Portuguese Illinois

Unadapted borrowing from English Illinois, borrowed from French Illinois.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /i.liˈnɔjs/ [i.liˈnɔɪ̯s]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /i.liˈnɔjs/ [i.liˈnɔɪ̯s]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /i.liˈnɔjʃ/ [i.liˈnɔɪ̯ʃ]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /i.liˈnɔjʃ/

• Rhymes: -ɔjs, -ɔjʃ

Proper noun

Illinois m

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)

See also

states of the United States: estados dos Estados Unidosedit

• Alabama
• Alasca
• Arizona
• Arkansas ~ Arcansas
• Califórnia
• Carolina do Norte
• Carolina do Sul
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Dacota do Norte
• Dacota do Sul
• Delaware
• Flórida
• Geórgia
• Havaí (Brazil) ~ Havai (Portugal)
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas ~ Cansas
• Kentucky
• Luisiana
• Maine
• Maryland ~ Marilândia
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi ~ Mississípi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebrasca
• Nevada
• Nova Hampshire
• Nova Iorque
• Nova Jérsei (Brazil) ~ Nova Jérsia (Portugal)
• Novo México
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pensilvânia
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virgínia
• Virgínia Ocidental
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Slovak

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iʎinɔjs/, (high register) [ˈiʎinɔɪ̯s], (common) [ˈilinɔɪ̯s]
• Rhymes: -inɔjs
• Hyphenation: Il‧li‧nois

Proper noun

Illinois m inan (genitive singular Illinoisu, declension pattern of dub)

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)

References

• “Illinois”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2026

Spanish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Miami ilenweewader.

Algonquiander.

French Illinoisbor.

English Illinoisubor.

Spanish Illinois

Unadapted borrowing from English Illinois.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iliˈnoi/ [i.liˈnoi̯]
  • Rhymes: -oi
• IPA^(key): /iliˈnois/ [i.liˈnoi̯s] (spelling pronunciation, more common)
  • Rhymes: -ois
• Syllabification: I‧lli‧nois

Proper noun

Illinois m

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)

   Synonym: Illinés (obsolete)

Related terms

• illinés
• Illinés

Swedish

Proper noun

Illinois n (genitive Illinois)

1. Illinois (a state of the United States, named for the people)