The word “Canada” comes from the Iroquoian word “kanata,” meaning village. In 1535, French explorer Jacques Cartier misunderstood the term and used it to describe a much larger area than intended.

Over time, the name stuck - eventually referring to the entire country we know today. This small linguistic mix-up became one of the most important moments in Canadian history.

The origin of Canada’s name is a popular question in Canadian Citizenship Test preparation, especially in sections about early exploration and Indigenous contributions to Canadian identity.