Innu

I1N1N1U1

proper noun

An Algonquian First Nations people inhabiting most of northeastern Labrador and parts of Quebec in eastern Canada.

Similar
MontagnaisInnu-aimun
OriginMontagnais Innu ← Proto-Algonquian *elenyiwa →
UncommonScrabble 4
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. An Algonquian First Nations people inhabiting most of northeastern Labrador and parts of Quebec in eastern Canada.

    Synonyms: Montagnais

  2. The Montagnais language.

    Synonyms: Innu-aimun

nounInnu (plural Innus or Innu)

plural Innus

  1. A member of this people

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounAn Algonquian First Nations people inhabiting most of northeastern Labrador and parts of Quebec in eastern Canada.

Similar
Montagnais

proper nounThe Montagnais language.

Similar
Innu-aimun
Also see
montagnais

Origin

  1. Proto-Algonquian*elenyiwa
  2. MontagnaisInnu
  3. EnglishInnu

From Montagnais Innu, from inniw (“man”), from Proto-Algonquian *elenyiwa. Not related to Inuit. This replaced the term Montagnais as the primary name of the people since 1990, but it remains in use officially to refer to its subgroups.

More words from Montagnais, Proto-Algonquian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French Innu, innu
  • Innupeople — see also Montagnais
  • innulanguage — see also Montagnais
  • innu-aimunlanguage — see also Montagnais
  • Innupeople — see also Montagnais
Cite this entry
APA

Innu. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Innu

MLA

“Innu.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Innu. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Innu,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Innu.

Source: Innu on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.