Etymology, English, Ottawa

Etymology

Said to be from Ojibwe odaawaa (“traders”)/ᐅᑡᐙ.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɒtəwə/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈɑtəwə/, /ˈɑtəˌwɑ/

Proper noun

Ottawa

1. An Algonquian people closely related to the Ojibwe; also spelt Ottowa.
2. The Ottawa dialect of Ojibwe; also spelt Odawa or Odaawaa.
3. A city in Ontario, Canada; capital city of Canada.
4. (by synecdoche, metonymically) The federal government of Canada.
5. A river flowing SE between Ontario and Quebec, Canada into the St. Lawrence River.
6. A city, the county seat of LaSalle County, Illinois.
7. A city, the county seat of Franklin County, Kansas.
8. An unincorporated community in Ottawa Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota.
9. A village, the county seat of Putnam County, Ohio.
10. A town and unincorporated community in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

Synonyms

• (capital of Canada): National Capital Region, NCR, Ottawa-Hull, Ottawa-Gatineau (biprovincial metropolitan region)

Coordinate terms

• (capital of Canada): Hull, Gatineau, Mega-Gatineau (twin city on opposite bank of river)

Derived terms

• Ottawa County
• Ottawa-Hull
• Ottawa-Gatineau
• Mega-Ottawa

Related terms

• Ottawan
• Outaouais

Noun

Ottawa (plural Ottawas)

1. A member of the Ottawa people.