by tigueron on December 6th, 2006
from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada's_name
The name Canada comes from a Wendat (Huron-Iroquoian) word, kanata, meaning "village" or "settlement".[1] In 1535, inhabitants of the area near present-day Quebec City used the word to direct the French explorer Jacques Cartier towards the village of Stadacona, a settlement on the site of present-day Quebec City. Another contemporary translation of kanata was "land"[2]. Cartier used the word 'Canada' to refer to not only that village, but the entire area subject to Donnacona, Chief at Stadacona.[3]. By 1547, maps made by early European explorers show that the name rivière de Canada was given to the nearby St. Lawrence River; the river was called Kaniatarowanenneh ("big waterway") in Mohawk, coincidentally and reinforcingly similar to kanata.
While the First Nations origin for the name Canada is now generally accepted, other possible explanations have been put forward in the past. One theory suggested that the name originated when Spanish explorers, not having explored the northern part of the continent, wrote acá nada ("nothing here") on that part of their maps.[4] A similar tale credits Portuguese explorers who, upon seeing the eastern coastline, declared a similar sentiment (cá nada há).[citation needed] However, the Spanish word for the country, Canadá, has an accent over the last letter, and sounds very little like acá nada. (The word canada without the accent does exist in the Spanish language and means "greyed" as in hair.)
by pepe09 on December 6th, 2006
by Skaterdude on April 24th, 2008
When they were naming canada, they just threw a bunch of letters in a bag, and had a canadian randomly draw them...
'C' eh?
'N' eh?
'D' eh?
Unforttunately, an american was recording the letters for presentation to the naming committee...
Viola! CANADA...
by gruffalo100 on May 3rd, 2008
"village" believe it or not
by Molerizer on April 24th, 2008
It was actually a misinterpretation I heard it was actually supposed to be named Kanaida At least thats how that part of the legend goes.
by Blackope-Knowledge is Power on April 24th, 2008
The word Canada means to me, George St-Pierre, the UFC Welterweight Champion of the World. Yea baby!!!
by Anonymous on April 24th, 2008
Place where Americans come to ask stupid questions.
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Comments
Thank you, I just found it too! Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village."
by KinKStar on December 6th, 2006
Please say native, aboriginal, indigenous or first nation. They're not Indian. Even if you call them Indian because they probably came from Asia, they are more closely related to Mongolian and Russian natives than Indians.
by Anti-Semantic - Quaerens Intellectum on December 22nd, 2007