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Glite Dictionary
🧑‍🦱 An Indigenous person 🗣️ A language family
Athapascan

Athapascan

9.9
A group of related Native American languages that people speak in Alaska, western Canada, and the US southwest
  • noun
  • /ˌæθəˈpæskən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lenguas atapasco
  • The Athapascan language family includes Navajo and Apache.

Examples

  • The Athapascan language family includes Navajo and Apache.

  • Many Native communities in Alaska speak a variety of Athapascan languages.

  • Linguists have studied the migration patterns of Athapascan speakers for decades.

  • The Athapascan languages include Navajo and Apache.

  • Many Athapascans live in Canada and Alaska.

  • Many Native communities in Alaska speak a variety of Athapascan languages.

  • Linguists have studied the migration patterns of Athapascan speakers for decades.

Synonyms

Athapaskan
vsAthapascan
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of related native languages spoken in northwest Canada, Alaska, and the southwestern United States

is the variant spelled with p rather than that spelling
Athabaskan
vsAthapascan
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of related Native American languages spoken in western North America, for example in Alaska and the southwest

is the variant spelled with p rather than this other form
Athabascan
vsAthapascan
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of related native languages spoken in Alaska, northwestern Canada, and the southwestern United States

is the variant spelled with p while the other omits it

Surface Forms

Athapascan singular
Athapascans plural

Etymology

Athapascan for the language family also comes from the river name Athabasca, from a Cree word meaning 'where there are reeds'. People used that place name to group related languages like Navajo and Apache, which is why Athapascan now names this family of languages.