name Common

Alaska

uh-LAS-kuh

Alaska (name) means the largest U.S. state by area, located in the far northwest of North America, with its capital at Juneau. Example: “Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and became a U.S. state in 1959.”

name

The largest U.S. state by area, located in the far northwest of North America, with its capital at Juneau.

"Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and became a U.S. state in 1959."

How to use Alaska

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe northernmost U.S. state, known for its vast wilderness and cold climate.

Easily confused with

Hawaii →

Common pairings

the state of Alaska the Alaska Peninsula

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ was purchased from Russia in 1867 and became a U.S. state in 1959.

Etymology

From an Aleut word referring to the mainland, describing land toward which the sea's currents are directed; the name reached English through Russian.

Origin: Russian

Frequently asked questions

What does “Alaska” mean?

The word “Alaska” means the largest U.S. state by area, located in the far northwest of North America, with its capital at Juneau. In plain terms, the northernmost U.S. state, known for its vast wilderness and cold climate.

How do you pronounce “Alaska”?

“Alaska” is pronounced uh-LAS-kuh (/əˈlæs.kə/ in IPA).

How do you use “Alaska” in a sentence?

Here is “Alaska” used in a sentence: “Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and became a U.S. state in 1959.”

What part of speech is “Alaska”?

“Alaska” is a name.

Where does the word “Alaska” come from?

The word “Alaska” comes from Russian. From an Aleut word referring to the mainland, describing land toward which the sea's currents are directed; the name reached English through Russian.

Is “Alaska” a common word?

“Alaska” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is the difference between Alaska and Hawaii as US states?

Alaska is the largest US state by area, located in the far northwest of North America, while Hawaii is a small island state in the Pacific. Alaska is known for its cold climate and vast wilderness, whereas Hawaii is tropical, making them geographic opposites among the states.

Is Juneau or Anchorage the capital of Alaska?

Juneau is the capital of Alaska, even though Anchorage is the state's largest city by population. This is a common point of confusion because many people assume the biggest city is the capital.

Is Alaska part of the contiguous United States?

No. Alaska sits in the far northwest of North America and is separated from the contiguous US by Canada, so it is not one of the lower 48 states. It is nonetheless the largest US state by area.

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Vocabulary lists that include Alaska:

Words with slavic origins Words that end with A