The Three Rivers: Linguistic Influence of Indigenous Languages in Pittsburgh

In Pittsburgh, words like Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio are familiar terms spoken in everyday language. While commonly referenced, these are not just landmarks but examples of the continuing linguistic legacy that Indigenous cultures have left in what is now the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Historically, this region was home first to the Adena, then the Hopewell, and later the Monongahela peoples, who lived here until about the 17th century. Most of the linguistic influences we see in Pittsburgh today come from communities that migrated here from the 18th century onward—for example, the Delaware (Lenape), Iroquoian, and Shawnee. Here are a few examples of Native influence, looking just at Pittsburgh’s rivers.

Allegheny – “The best flowing river” The name Allegheny comes from the Lenape (Unami) phrase welhik hane, meaning “best flowing river." The Unami dialect is the southern dialect of the Lenape language, spoken historically in southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and northern Delaware. Linguistically, Lenape is a polysynthetic language, meaning a single word can express an entire sentence by combining roots and affixes. Part of the Eastern Algonquian language group of the Algonquian language family, the Unami word “Allegheny” survives not only as the name of a river but in Allegheny County, Allegheny City (now Pittsburgh’s North Side), and dozens of street and school names represented across the region.

Monongahela – “Falling banks” The word Monongahela is believed to come from a Lenape (Unami) or Algonquian word Mënaonkihëla, roughly meaning “falling banks” and referencing the river’s high banks that erode easily during seasonal changes. While the word has been anglicized heavily, its sound structure still reflects Lenape linguistic patterns with open syllables and nasalized vowels. The Monongahela Valley was also home to multiple settlements, including Shawnee, Lenape, and Mingo (primarily Seneca and Cayuga) peoples during the 17th and 18th centuries. Although called by an Unami name, the Monongahela River was also vital for Shawnee trade routes, seasonal migrations, and resistance efforts during the colonial era.

Ohio – “Good river” One of the most widely known landmarks in the region is the Ohio, which comes from the Seneca word Ohi:yo’, meaning “good river” or “beautiful river.” Although we now identify the Ohio River as a separate body, Ohio is actually the Seneca name for the same river the Lenape called the Allegheny, since it is formed in part by the same source. Despite their communities’ proximity, the Seneca language is part of the Northern Iroquoian family and very different from Lenape or Shawnee, as it features agglutinative verb structures and noun incorporation. For the Seneca and other Haudenosaunee nations, the Ohio River was a critical center for trade, diplomacy, migration, and sustenance.

If you’re interested in more information about Pittsburgh’s Native American history, you can read more here.