eskimo

See also: Eskimo

Languages (7)

Danish • Esperanto • Finnish • French • Italian • Norwegian Bokmål • Slovak

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Page categories

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from French esquimau, probably from Algonquin ayashkimew (“showshoe-netter”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛskimoː/, [ɛsɡ̊iˈmoˀ]

Noun

eskimo c (singular definite eskimoen, plural indefinite eskimoer)

1. Eskimo (indigenous peoples living in Greenland, Canada, and Alaska; the word may be considered offensive today)

   Synonym: inuit c

Declension

Declension of eskimo

common gender	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	eskimo	eskimoen	eskimoer	eskimoerne
genitive	eskimos	eskimoens	eskimoers	eskimoernes

Derived terms

• eskimoisk
• eskimolog
• eskimologi
• eskimologisk

References

• “eskimo” in Den Danske Ordbog
• “Eskimo” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog

Esperanto

Etymology

From English Eskimo, German Eskimo, ultimately from Algonquin ayashkimew. Doublet of ĥaskio.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /esˈkimo/
• Rhymes: -imo
• Syllabification: es‧ki‧mo

Noun

eskimo (accusative singular eskimon, plural eskimoj, accusative plural eskimojn)

1. Eskimo

Further reading

• “eskimo”, in Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto], 2020, →ISBN
• “eskimo”, in Reta Vortaro [Online Dictionary] (in Esperanto), 1997-2026

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈeskimo/, [ˈe̞s̠k̟imo̞]
• Rhymes: -eskimo
• Syllabification^(key): es‧ki‧mo
• Hyphenation^(key): es‧ki‧mo

Etymology 1

From English Eskimo; see it for more.

Noun

eskimo

1. Eskimo (person)
2. (in the plural) Eskimo (people)

Declension

Inflection of eskimo (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)
nominative		eskimo	eskimot
genitive		eskimon	eskimojen eskimoiden eskimoitten
partitive		eskimoa	eskimoja eskimoita
illative		eskimoon	eskimoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		eskimo	eskimot
accusative	nom.	eskimo	eskimot
	gen.	eskimon
genitive		eskimon	eskimojen eskimoiden eskimoitten
partitive		eskimoa	eskimoja eskimoita
inessive		eskimossa	eskimoissa
elative		eskimosta	eskimoista
illative		eskimoon	eskimoihin
adessive		eskimolla	eskimoilla
ablative		eskimolta	eskimoilta
allative		eskimolle	eskimoille
essive		eskimona	eskimoina
translative		eskimoksi	eskimoiksi
abessive		eskimotta	eskimoitta
instructive		—	eskimoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of eskimo (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative eskimoni eskimoni accusative nom. eskimoni eskimoni gen. eskimoni genitive eskimoni eskimojeni eskimoideni eskimoitteni partitive eskimoani eskimojani eskimoitani inessive eskimossani eskimoissani elative eskimostani eskimoistani illative eskimooni eskimoihini adessive eskimollani eskimoillani ablative eskimoltani eskimoiltani allative eskimolleni eskimoilleni essive eskimonani eskimoinani translative eskimokseni eskimoikseni abessive eskimottani eskimoittani instructive — — comitative — eskimoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative eskimosi eskimosi accusative nom. eskimosi eskimosi gen. eskimosi genitive eskimosi eskimojesi eskimoidesi eskimoittesi partitive eskimoasi eskimojasi eskimoitasi inessive eskimossasi eskimoissasi elative eskimostasi eskimoistasi illative eskimoosi eskimoihisi adessive eskimollasi eskimoillasi ablative eskimoltasi eskimoiltasi allative eskimollesi eskimoillesi essive eskimonasi eskimoinasi translative eskimoksesi eskimoiksesi abessive eskimottasi eskimoittasi instructive — — comitative — eskimoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative eskimomme eskimomme accusative nom. eskimomme eskimomme gen. eskimomme genitive eskimomme eskimojemme eskimoidemme eskimoittemme partitive eskimoamme eskimojamme eskimoitamme inessive eskimossamme eskimoissamme elative eskimostamme eskimoistamme illative eskimoomme eskimoihimme adessive eskimollamme eskimoillamme ablative eskimoltamme eskimoiltamme allative eskimollemme eskimoillemme essive eskimonamme eskimoinamme translative eskimoksemme eskimoiksemme abessive eskimottamme eskimoittamme instructive — — comitative — eskimoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative eskimonne eskimonne accusative nom. eskimonne eskimonne gen. eskimonne genitive eskimonne eskimojenne eskimoidenne eskimoittenne partitive eskimoanne eskimojanne eskimoitanne inessive eskimossanne eskimoissanne elative eskimostanne eskimoistanne illative eskimoonne eskimoihinne adessive eskimollanne eskimoillanne ablative eskimoltanne eskimoiltanne allative eskimollenne eskimoillenne essive eskimonanne eskimoinanne translative eskimoksenne eskimoiksenne abessive eskimottanne eskimoittanne instructive — — comitative — eskimoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative eskimonsa eskimonsa accusative nom. eskimonsa eskimonsa gen. eskimonsa genitive eskimonsa eskimojensa eskimoidensa eskimoittensa partitive eskimoaan eskimoansa eskimojaan eskimoitaan eskimojansa eskimoitansa inessive eskimossaan eskimossansa eskimoissaan eskimoissansa elative eskimostaan eskimostansa eskimoistaan eskimoistansa illative eskimoonsa eskimoihinsa adessive eskimollaan eskimollansa eskimoillaan eskimoillansa ablative eskimoltaan eskimoltansa eskimoiltaan eskimoiltansa allative eskimolleen eskimollensa eskimoilleen eskimoillensa essive eskimonaan eskimonansa eskimoinaan eskimoinansa translative eskimokseen eskimoksensa eskimoikseen eskimoiksensa abessive eskimottaan eskimottansa eskimoittaan eskimoittansa instructive — — comitative — eskimoineen eskimoinensa

Derived terms

• eskimologi

compounds

• amerikaneskimokoira
• eskimohanhi
• eskimokajakki
• eskimokanootti
• eskimokieli
• eskimokielinen
• eskimokoira
• eskimokuiri
• eskimokuovi
• eskimokäännös
• eskimolokki
• eskimopyörähdys
• eskimosirri
• eskimosuukko

Further reading

• “1. eskimo”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[1] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 1 July 2023

Etymology 2

Genericized trademark from Suomen Eskimo (“Finnish Eskimo”), a former ice cream maker that introduced the ice cream bar into the Finnish market. The ice cream was still sold as Eskimo until the name was retired in 2020, although it still remains a trademark.

Noun

eskimo (informal, genericized trademark)

1. synonym of jäätelöpuikko (ice cream bar, specifically one coated in a thin layer of chocolate)

Declension

Inflection of eskimo (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)
nominative		eskimo	eskimot
genitive		eskimon	eskimojen eskimoiden eskimoitten
partitive		eskimoa	eskimoja eskimoita
illative		eskimoon	eskimoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		eskimo	eskimot
accusative	nom.	eskimo	eskimot
	gen.	eskimon
genitive		eskimon	eskimojen eskimoiden eskimoitten
partitive		eskimoa	eskimoja eskimoita
inessive		eskimossa	eskimoissa
elative		eskimosta	eskimoista
illative		eskimoon	eskimoihin
adessive		eskimolla	eskimoilla
ablative		eskimolta	eskimoilta
allative		eskimolle	eskimoille
essive		eskimona	eskimoina
translative		eskimoksi	eskimoiksi
abessive		eskimotta	eskimoitta
instructive		—	eskimoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of eskimo (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative eskimoni eskimoni accusative nom. eskimoni eskimoni gen. eskimoni genitive eskimoni eskimojeni eskimoideni eskimoitteni partitive eskimoani eskimojani eskimoitani inessive eskimossani eskimoissani elative eskimostani eskimoistani illative eskimooni eskimoihini adessive eskimollani eskimoillani ablative eskimoltani eskimoiltani allative eskimolleni eskimoilleni essive eskimonani eskimoinani translative eskimokseni eskimoikseni abessive eskimottani eskimoittani instructive — — comitative — eskimoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative eskimosi eskimosi accusative nom. eskimosi eskimosi gen. eskimosi genitive eskimosi eskimojesi eskimoidesi eskimoittesi partitive eskimoasi eskimojasi eskimoitasi inessive eskimossasi eskimoissasi elative eskimostasi eskimoistasi illative eskimoosi eskimoihisi adessive eskimollasi eskimoillasi ablative eskimoltasi eskimoiltasi allative eskimollesi eskimoillesi essive eskimonasi eskimoinasi translative eskimoksesi eskimoiksesi abessive eskimottasi eskimoittasi instructive — — comitative — eskimoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative eskimomme eskimomme accusative nom. eskimomme eskimomme gen. eskimomme genitive eskimomme eskimojemme eskimoidemme eskimoittemme partitive eskimoamme eskimojamme eskimoitamme inessive eskimossamme eskimoissamme elative eskimostamme eskimoistamme illative eskimoomme eskimoihimme adessive eskimollamme eskimoillamme ablative eskimoltamme eskimoiltamme allative eskimollemme eskimoillemme essive eskimonamme eskimoinamme translative eskimoksemme eskimoiksemme abessive eskimottamme eskimoittamme instructive — — comitative — eskimoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative eskimonne eskimonne accusative nom. eskimonne eskimonne gen. eskimonne genitive eskimonne eskimojenne eskimoidenne eskimoittenne partitive eskimoanne eskimojanne eskimoitanne inessive eskimossanne eskimoissanne elative eskimostanne eskimoistanne illative eskimoonne eskimoihinne adessive eskimollanne eskimoillanne ablative eskimoltanne eskimoiltanne allative eskimollenne eskimoillenne essive eskimonanne eskimoinanne translative eskimoksenne eskimoiksenne abessive eskimottanne eskimoittanne instructive — — comitative — eskimoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative eskimonsa eskimonsa accusative nom. eskimonsa eskimonsa gen. eskimonsa genitive eskimonsa eskimojensa eskimoidensa eskimoittensa partitive eskimoaan eskimoansa eskimojaan eskimoitaan eskimojansa eskimoitansa inessive eskimossaan eskimossansa eskimoissaan eskimoissansa elative eskimostaan eskimostansa eskimoistaan eskimoistansa illative eskimoonsa eskimoihinsa adessive eskimollaan eskimollansa eskimoillaan eskimoillansa ablative eskimoltaan eskimoltansa eskimoiltaan eskimoiltansa allative eskimolleen eskimollensa eskimoilleen eskimoillensa essive eskimonaan eskimonansa eskimoinaan eskimoinansa translative eskimokseen eskimoksensa eskimoikseen eskimoiksensa abessive eskimottaan eskimottansa eskimoittaan eskimoittansa instructive — — comitative — eskimoineen eskimoinensa

French

Alternative forms

• esquimau

Etymology

From Eskimo m.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛs.ki.mo/

• Audio (France (Somain)):

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Adjective

eskimo (invariable)

1. Eskimo

Further reading

• “eskimo”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012

Italian

Noun

eskimo m (invariable)

1. a parka coat

Norwegian Bokmål

An Inuit family in Greenland photographed during Fridtjof Nansen's Greenland expedition, 1888–1889.

Etymology

Probably from English Eskimo, itself partly from Spanish esquimaos (“Eskimos”) and French Esquimaux (“Eskimos”), ultimately from an Algonquian language. The most widely accepted modern explanation derives the word from Montagnais ayaškimew (“snowshoe-netter”). Doublet of husky (“husky”).

Compare the parallel borrowings Norwegian Nynorsk eskimo, Danish eskimo and Swedish eskimå (“Eskimo”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /¹ɛs.kɪˈmuː/, [ɛs.kɪˈmǔː]
• Rhymes: -uː
• Hyphenation: es‧ki‧mo

Noun

eskimo m (definite singular eskimoen, indefinite plural eskimoer, definite plural eskimoene)

1. (dated, sometimes derogatory) Eskimo; an Inuit person

   Synonym: inuitt

   I eldre norske tekster blir inuitter ofte omtalt som eskimoer. ― In older Norwegian texts, Inuit people are often referred to as Eskimos.

   • 1988, Tor Ulven, Gravgaver, page 13:

     de sibirske eskimoene fant støttenner og skjeletter av de utdødde mammutene

     the Siberian Eskimos found tusks and skeletons of the extinct mammoths

   • 1997, Morten Jørgensen, Kongen av København, page 274:

     hun var eskimo, jøss! Vaskeekte grønlender, vokst opp i isødet

     she was an Eskimo, wow! A genuine Greenlander, raised in the icy wilderness

2. (textiles) a heavily fulled, napped and brushed fabric, traditionally with a wool face; also a thick cotton fabric with a long nap
   • 2025 February 24, Ingun Grimstad Klepp, “eskimo – ullstoff”, in Store norske leksikon‎^[2], archived from the original on 31 August 2026:

     Betegnelsen brukes også om tykt bomullsstoff med grov, løstspunnet veft hvor fiberendene til dels dekker bindingen.

     The term is also used for thick cotton fabric with coarse, loosely spun weft whose fibres partly cover the weave.

Usage notes

• Bokmålsordboka labels the ethnonym eskimo obsolete and gives inuitt (“Inuit”) as the current term. NAOB notes that eskimo still occurs colloquially but may be perceived as derogatory.
• Historically, eskimo has also been used as a broader umbrella term for Arctic peoples including groups that are not Inuit, so historical occurrences cannot always be replaced mechanically with inuitt.

Derived terms

• eskimohund (“Eskimo dog”)
• eskimohytte (“Inuit dwelling; igloo”)
• eskimoisk (“Eskimo; Inuit; Eskimo language group”)
• eskimoisk-aleutisk (“Eskimo–Aleut”)
• eskimokultur (“Inuit culture”)
• eskimomure (“Eskimo cinquefoil”)
• eskimorulle (“Eskimo roll; kayak roll”)
• eskimosving (“Eskimo roll; kayak roll”)

References

• “eskimo” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “eskimo” in Norwegian Academy Dictionary (NAOB).
• “eskimo” in Store norske leksikon

Slovak

Etymology

Genericized trademark.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /eskimɔ/, [ˈeskimɔ]
• Rhymes: -imɔ
• Hyphenation: es‧ki‧mo

Noun

eskimo n

1. ice cream bar

   Synonym: nanuk

Declension

Declension of eskimo
(pattern mesto)

	singular	plural
nominative	eskimo	eskimá
genitive	eskima	eskím
dative	eskimu	eskimám
accusative	eskimo	eskimá
locative	eskime	eskimách
instrumental	eskimom	eskimami

Further reading

• “eskimo”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2026
• Peter Oravec (2016–2026), “eskimo”, in Obrátený slovník cudzích slov [Reverse dictionary of foreign words] (in Slovak), https://www.najdislovo.sk