Alabama
Alabama (noun) means a Muscogee-speaking Indigenous people originally from central Alabama, or a member of that people. Example: “The Alabama people gave their name to the river and, eventually, the U.S. state.”
How to Use Alabama
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefers to the Native American nation the state of Alabama was named after, not the state itself.
Word Forms
Alabamas plural
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The _____ people gave their name to the river and, eventually, the U.S. state.
Etymology
Likely from Spanish Alibamo, from the Alabama people's own name Albaamo for themselves — the same word later became the name of the U.S. state.
Synonyms
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See all rhymes for Alabama →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Alabama” mean?
The word “Alabama” means a Muscogee-speaking Indigenous people originally from central Alabama, or a member of that people. In plain terms, refers to the Native American nation the state of Alabama was named after, not the state itself.
How do you pronounce “Alabama”?
“Alabama” is pronounced a-luh-BA-muh (/ˌæ.ləˈbæmə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Alabama” in a sentence?
Here is “Alabama” used in a sentence: “The Alabama people gave their name to the river and, eventually, the U.S. state.”
What part of speech is “Alabama”?
“Alabama” is a noun.
Where does the word “Alabama” come from?
The word “Alabama” comes from Spanish. Likely from Spanish Alibamo, from the Alabama people's own name Albaamo for themselves — the same word later became the name of the U.S. state.
Is “Alabama” a common word?
“Alabama” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between the Alabama people and the U.S. state of Alabama?
The Alabama are a Muscogee-speaking Indigenous people originally from central Alabama, while the U.S. state is the political region that took its name from them. The people came first, and the state name derives from the tribe.
What language do the Alabama people speak?
The Alabama people speak a Muscogean language, part of the Muscogee (Creek) language family of the southeastern United States. This shared language links them with several other Indigenous peoples of the region.
Where did the Alabama people originally live?
The Alabama people originally lived in what is now central Alabama in the southeastern United States. Over time many relocated westward, and the name "Alibamu" is an alternative spelling used for the same people.
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