Is 'Coyote State' an official name?

No, it is an informal nickname, not the official state name.

Why is South Dakota called the Coyote State?

Because of the significant population of coyotes historically and currently present in the state.

Do people in South Dakota commonly use this nickname?

It is known and used, but 'The Mount Rushmore State' is a more prominent and official nickname.

Can 'Coyote State' be used for any other place?

No, it is uniquely associated with South Dakota.

Is “coyote state” formal?

Coyote state is usually informal in register.

How do you pronounce “coyote state”?

Coyote state: in British English it is pronounced /kaɪˈəʊti steɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kaɪˈoʊti steɪt/ or /ˈkaɪ.oʊt steɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

coyote state: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low

UK/kaɪˈəʊti steɪt/US/kaɪˈoʊti steɪt/ or /ˈkaɪ.oʊt steɪt/

Informal

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “coyote state” mean?

Nickname for the US state of South Dakota.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Nickname for the US state of South Dakota.

A nickname that highlights South Dakota's wildlife and natural environment, specifically its population of coyotes.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

This term is exclusively American. It would be largely unrecognised and unused in British English contexts, except when discussing specific US geography or culture.

Connotations

In the US: regional pride, local identity, historical reference. In the UK: geographic foreignness, cultural specificity.

Frequency

Extremely rare in UK English. Low frequency in US English, appearing mainly in regional/historical texts, tourism materials, or as trivia.

Grammar

How to Use “coyote state” in a Sentence

[Subject] is known as [the Coyote State].They visited [the Coyote State] last summer.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

South Dakotanicknamestate

medium

is calledknown asnicknamed

weak

visitintravel to

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rarely used. Might appear in tourism or outdoor recreation business contexts (e.g., 'investing in the Coyote State').

Academic

Used in historical, geographical, or cultural studies of US states and their symbols.

Everyday

Used informally by residents or in casual conversation about US states and trivia.

Technical

Not used in technical contexts.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “coyote state”

Strong

The Mount Rushmore State

Neutral

South Dakota

Weak

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “coyote state”

Using it as a general adjective (e.g., 'a coyote state politician').
Confusing it with other state nicknames (e.g., 'Badger State' for Wisconsin).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is an informal nickname, not the official state name.
: Because of the significant population of coyotes historically and currently present in the state.
: It is known and used, but 'The Mount Rushmore State' is a more prominent and official nickname.
: No, it is uniquely associated with South Dakota.
: Nickname for the US state of South Dakota.
: Coyote state is usually informal in register.
: Coyote state: in British English it is pronounced /kaɪˈəʊti steɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kaɪˈoʊti steɪt/ or /ˈkaɪ.oʊt steɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a coyote howling at the moon over the Badlands – that image is linked to South Dakota, the Coyote State.

Conceptual Metaphor

PLACE FOR ITS CHARACTERISTIC ANIMAL

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

'The State' is a nickname for South Dakota.

Multiple Choice

What does 'Coyote State' refer to?