{"id":12158,"date":"2023-12-08T19:10:11","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T18:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12158"},"modified":"2023-12-08T19:10:11","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T18:10:11","slug":"what-does-the-name-of-mississippi-river-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-does-the-name-of-mississippi-river-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does The Name Of Mississippi River Mean"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The title of Mississippi River invokes strong emotions, especially for those living in the region. The Mississippi River has long been a symbol of the power of nature and has encouraged people to live near it or use it for exploration and trade. Many have speculated on the meaning of its name. <\/p>\n

One of the prevailing theories is that the word Mississippi is derived from the French phrase messe-ache-pe meaning “It has tears, it cuts its way.” This would suggest an ancient reverence for the mighty river that cuts its way through the landscape. <\/p>\n

Other theories suggest that the name comes from two different Nat Inca Indian words, misi and ziibi. Misi means “Great River” and ziibi means “Father of Waters”. It is also believed that the word Mississippi is derived from a Native American word meaning “father of rivers”. This could also have been derived from the Native American belief that the Mississippi was the father of all rivers. <\/p>\n

The most likely origin of the name Mississippi is the Ojibwa Indian word ‘misi-ziibi’ which translates to “Great River.” This corroborates the theory that the river was held in high regard by Native Americans. In fact, ancient Native American tribes used the Mississippi as an important navigational tool. The Choctaw were said to be some of the most proficient river-goers, using the river to hunt, trade and as a place of retreat.<\/p>\n