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Where does the word "inuksuk" come from? It comes from Inuktitut inuksuk, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
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Where does the word "inuksuk" come from? It comes from Inuktitut inuksuk, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
Inuksuk’s story begins in Inuktitut: inuksuk meant “something that acts in the capacity of a human.” Combined 'inuk' (person) and a suffix meaning 'substitute', describing a stone figure that acts in place of a human. It reached English by 1900s as inuksuk. Borrowed into English, becoming widely known after being used as the emblem of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Today, inuksuk means a stone landmark or cairn built by Inuit and other Arctic peoples, traditionally used for navigation or communication.
- Stage 1 · Inuktitut · pre-1800s inuksuk "something that acts in the capacity of a human", combined 'inuk' (person) and a suffix meaning 'substitute', describing a stone figure that acts in place of a human.
- Stage 2 · English · 1900s inuksuk "a stone landmark or cairn built by Arctic peoples", borrowed into English, becoming widely known after being used as the emblem of the 2010 Winter Olympics.