Different structures built by different peoples. A teepee is a portable cone of poles covered in hide, used by nomadic Plains nations following buffalo. A wigwam is a domed or arched frame of bent saplings covered in bark or mats, built by more settled peoples of the Northeast and Great Lakes.
The core difference
- teepee — conical, straight poles, hide or canvas cover, designed to be struck and moved quickly.
- wigwam — domed or arched, frame of bent saplings, covered with bark, hides or woven mats. Semi-permanent.
The shape follows the way of life
Teepees belong to the Plains nations — Lakota, Cheyenne, Blackfoot and others — whose lives followed the buffalo herds. A teepee can be taken down and reassembled quickly and moved by horse or dog travois. It also has an adjustable smoke flap at the top, so it works as a heated dwelling in severe winters.
Wigwams belong to peoples of the Northeast Woodlands and Great Lakes, including the Algonquian nations, who moved seasonally rather than constantly. The frame stayed in place while the covering could be removed, which suits a return to the same site.
Longhouse, hogan and igloo
The vocabulary is often flattened into one generic idea of a native dwelling. It should not be:
- Longhouse — Haudenosaunee. Long bark-covered structures housing many related families, up to eighty metres.
- Hogan — Navajo. Earth and timber, with the doorway facing east.
- Igloo — Inuit. Snow block construction, and in Inuktitut the word simply means house, of any kind.
Spelling
Teepee, tipi and tepee are all in use. Tipi is closest to the Lakota, from thipi, meaning a dwelling — thi, to dwell, plus pi, a plural marker. Many museums and Plains nations prefer that spelling.
Where the words come from
Wigwam comes from Eastern Abenaki wigwôm, meaning their house, related to Ojibwe wiigiwaam. English borrowed both words in the seventeenth century and then, unhelpfully, used them almost interchangeably.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a wigwam and a teepee?
A teepee is a portable cone of poles covered in hide, used by nomadic Plains nations. A wigwam is a domed frame of bent saplings covered in bark or mats, built by more settled Northeast peoples.
Which spelling is correct — teepee, tipi or tepee?
All are used. Tipi is closest to the Lakota word thipi, meaning dwelling, and is preferred by many museums and Plains nations.
Are all Native American dwellings teepees?
No. Longhouses, hogans, wigwams and igloos are all distinct structures built by different peoples for different climates and ways of life.