Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City (pronunciation: /ˌoʊkləˈhoʊmə ˈsɪti/), often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The city's name is derived from the Choctaw words okla and humma, meaning "red people".

Etymology

The name "Oklahoma" comes from the Choctaw phrase okla humma, literally meaning "red people". Choctaw Nation Chief Allen Wright suggested the name in 1866 during treaty negotiations with the federal government on the use of Indian Territory, in which he envisioned an all-Indian state controlled by the United States Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Equivalent to the English word Indian, okla humma was a phrase in the Choctaw language that described Native American people as a whole. The city's name is an homage to this origin.

Related Terms

Oklahoma: The U.S. state in which Oklahoma City is located.
Choctaw: The Native American tribe from which the name "Oklahoma" is derived.
Indian Territory: The area of the United States, in what is now the state of Oklahoma, where Native American tribes were relocated in the 19th century.
U.S. state: A constituent political entity of the United States of America. There are currently 50 states, of which Oklahoma is one.
Capital (city): The city or town that serves as the official seat of government in a political entity, such as a state or nation.