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What does the word "Inuit" mean?

Quick answer: The people in Inuktitut. In our practice tests 88% of 92 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “House in English”.

AEskimo in Inuktitut
BHouse in English
✓The people in Inuktitut
DArctic land in Inuktitut

Why is this the correct answer?

"Inuit" means "the people" in Inuktitut, the Inuit language. The Inuit live primarily in the Arctic regions of Canada, including Nunavut, northern Quebec, and Labrador.

Study Tip

The word "Inuit" is related to the Indigenous people of Canada. It's a term that refers to themselves, but its meaning is not necessarily a direct translation of its English equivalent.

Try it yourself

Can you answer these 3 citizenship test questions?

1. What two languages are Canada's official languages?

2. What does the word Inuit mean in the Inuktitut language?

3. What is the meaning of the word Inuit?

The real test has 20 questions in 45 minutes. You need 15 correct to pass.

Take the full citizenship practice test

What should you know about this topic?

The Inuit are one of the three distinct groups of Indigenous peoples in Canada, along with First Nations and Métis. In the Inuktitut language, Inuit means the people. Discover Canada explains that the Inuit live in small, scattered communities across the Arctic, and their knowledge of the land, sea and wildlife allowed them to adapt to one of the harshest environments on earth.

The word Eskimo was used by outsiders in the past, but it is not the name the Inuit use for themselves, and it is considered outdated in Canada. Using the people's own name is a sign of respect. Today, the Inuit make up about 4% of Indigenous people in Canada, according to Discover Canada.

In 1999, the territory of Nunavut was created from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. Its name means our land in Inuktitut, and most of its population is Inuit. Inuit culture is also represented in Canadian symbols, such as the inukshuk, a stone landmark used for navigation that appeared in the logo of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Related test topics include the three groups of Indigenous peoples, the creation of Nunavut, the Métis and Louis Riel, and the history of residential schools. Inuit have kept their language and traditions alive through art, storytelling and music. Inuktitut is an official language in Nunavut, where many signs and documents appear in Inuktitut syllabics as well as English and French.

Why are the other answers wrong?

  • House in English: Inuit is not an English word and does not mean house. An Inuit traditional winter shelter is called an igloo.
  • Eskimo in Inuktitut: Eskimo is an older outsider term, not the meaning of Inuit. It is considered outdated in Canada.
  • Arctic land in Inuktitut: This is closer to the meaning of Nunavut, which means our land. Inuit refers to the people, not the land.

What is the most common mistake?

Learners sometimes mix up Inuit (the people) with Nunavut (our land). Inuit is the people; Nunavut is their territory.

How can you remember the answer?

Inuit = In the people. Nunavut = Now our land.

Original data

How many people get this question right?

88% of 92 practice answers from about 65 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "House in English", chosen 7% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.

Eskimo in Inuktitut3%
House in EnglishMost common mistake7%
The people in InuktitutCorrect88%
Arctic land in Inuktitut2%

How hard is this question compared with others?

It is the 47th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Who We Are chapter is 79% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.

88%
correct on this question
79%
Who We Are average
75%
average, all questions

These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Who We Are questions.

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Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?

This question is from the Who We Are section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.

This chapter has 43 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.

How should you study for the citizenship test?

Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.