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Definition of minnehaha

minnehaha

/ˌmɪn.iˈhɑː.hɑː/
min · ne · ha · ha
Plural:minnehahas
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minnehaha Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American A fictional Native American woman who appears as the tragic lover and wife of the titular protagonist in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epic poem 'The Song of Hiawatha'.

Example

"In American literature classes, Minnehaha is frequently analyzed as a complex representation of indigenous women in nineteenth-century romantic poetry."

2

American A waterfall; most frequently referencing Minnehaha Falls, a notable 53-foot waterfall situated on Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Synonyms
View all synonyms for minnehaha

Word Nuance & Usage

Though famously translated as 'laughing water' in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poetry, the original Dakota term translates more accurately to 'waterfall' or 'rapid water'. It is almost exclusively capitalized in modern usage.

• Nearby Words

minke whale
minla
minneapolis
minnehaha
minneola
minnie
minnow

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Dakota word 'mníȟaȟa', meaning 'waterfall', which is formed from 'mní' (water) and 'ȟaȟa' (waterfall, curling, or rapid). It was popularized in English by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epic poem 'The Song of Hiawatha'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Minnehaha. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/minnehaha
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