What does the name 'Québec' mean in Algonquian?

• A. Where the river widens
• B. Where the river narrows
• C. Quiet waters
• D. Land of the gathering

Answer: (B)

Québec comes from an Algonquian word used to describe the Saint-Lawrence River at that spot: it narrows. Indigenous travelers noted that the river tightens as it runs past the area near Quebec City, creating a distinct, narrower passage between the shores. This visible feature made the place a memorable landmark for navigation and trade, so the name stuck for the settlement and eventually the province. The other meanings don’t fit because they describe features that aren’t what the name was pointing to—the river’s width narrowing is the key idea, not widening, quiet water, or a land for gathering.