eskimo
C2Historical/Traditional use; now considered dated or offensive in many contexts, particularly in Canada. Use is more sensitive and often avoided in formal, academic, and anthropological writing.
Definition
Meaning
A member of indigenous peoples inhabiting Arctic and subarctic regions of North America (particularly Alaska and Canada) and parts of Greenland and Siberia. Historically used to refer to the Inuit and Yupik peoples collectively.
Pertaining to these peoples or their cultures, languages, or ways of life. Sometimes used in compounds like 'Eskimo dog' (husky) or 'Eskimo pie' (an ice cream treat).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is considered problematic and often offensive as it is an exonym (name given by outsiders) and its etymology is disputed (possibly from a word meaning 'eater of raw meat'). The preferred terms are specific ethnonyms: 'Inuit' for peoples of Canada and Greenland, and 'Yupik' or 'Inupiat' for peoples of Alaska and Siberia. In some contexts, especially in the US state of Alaska, 'Eskimo' is still used in a broad geographical sense to include both Inuit and Yupik.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is sensitive in both regions, but the shift to 'Inuit' is more established and widespread in Canadian and British English. In Alaska (US), 'Eskimo' is still used in an official and non-pejorative sense by some native groups and state institutions.
Connotations
In the UK/Canada: Increasingly associated with historical or outdated texts, can be perceived as insensitive. In the US (Alaska): More neutral in certain official and regional contexts, but awareness of its potential offensiveness is growing.
Frequency
Frequency has decreased significantly in 21st-century English, especially in formal writing and news media, in favor of specific terms like Inuit.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the __ (peoples)an __ (community)__ culture/languageVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Eskimo kiss (rubbing noses as a sign of affection)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare, except possibly in historical context of trade (e.g., 'Eskimo art'). Best avoided.
Academic
Strongly discouraged in modern anthropological, cultural, or social studies. 'Inuit', 'Yupik', or specific ethnonyms are required for academic precision and respect.
Everyday
Usage is declining. May be heard from older generations or in fixed phrases like 'Eskimo Pie'. Increasingly recognized as potentially offensive.
Technical
In linguistic or historical texts, it may appear with a disclaimer. In climate/geography contexts, 'Arctic indigenous peoples' is preferred.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The museum had a collection of Eskimo artifacts.
- He owned an Eskimo carving.
American English
- The exhibit featured Eskimo artwork from Alaska.
- She bought a book on Eskimo mythology.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He read about Eskimos in school.
- The children learned about Eskimo houses made of ice.
- The term 'Eskimo' is less commonly used today than 'Inuit'.
- My grandfather has an old book with pictures of Eskimo life.
- Anthropologists now generally avoid the word 'Eskimo' due to its pejorative origins and imprecision.
- The documentary contrasted the traditional Yupik and Inuit cultures, both historically labelled 'Eskimo'.
- The lexical shift from 'Eskimo' to 'Inuit' reflects a broader movement towards self-designation and the rejection of colonial ethnonyms.
- While 'Eskimo' persists in some Alaskan legal and institutional contexts, its usage is the subject of ongoing debate.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'SKI' in 'Eskimo' and the image of a person on skis in a snowy, Arctic landscape. (Note: This is for word recall only, not an endorsement of the term.)
Conceptual Metaphor
Often used metaphorically to denote extreme cold resilience or a traditional, ice-bound lifestyle (e.g., 'an Eskimo in the desert' meaning someone completely out of their element).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- The Russian word 'эскимос' is a direct cognate and carries the same semantic and sensitivity issues. It is not a neutral translation; the same cautions apply. Modern Russian texts also increasingly use 'инуиты' (Inuit).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'Eskimo' as a catch-all term when referring specifically to the Inuit of Canada. Assuming it is a universally acceptable term. Using it without awareness of its controversial nature.
Practice
Quiz
In which regional context might the term 'Eskimo' still be considered acceptable in official use?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, to many people, especially Inuit in Canada and Greenland. It is an exonym with disputed and potentially derogatory origins. It is widely considered outdated and insensitive, and the preferred terms are 'Inuit', 'Yupik', or other specific group names.
'Inuit' refers specifically to the indigenous peoples of Arctic Canada and Greenland. 'Eskimo' was a broader term applied by outsiders to include both the Inuit and the Yupik peoples of Alaska and Siberia. 'Inuit' is now the correct and respectful term for the Canadian and Greenlandic groups.
It remains in some historical texts, fixed product names (e.g., Eskimo Pie), and, notably, in parts of Alaska where it is used inclusively for Yupik and Inupiat peoples and is not universally considered pejorative. However, its use is declining globally.
Use the specific name of the group if you know it: 'Inuit' for peoples of Canada and Greenland, 'Yupik' or 'Inupiat' for peoples of Alaska. If you need a general term, use 'Arctic indigenous peoples', 'Inuit and Yupik peoples', or the specific geographical reference (e.g., 'the indigenous people of Alaska').