The Mi'kmaq language (also spelled Míkmaq, Mi'gmaq, Mi'qmac, or priorly Micmac) is an Eastern Algonquian language spoken by nearly 9,000 Míkmaq in Canada, and another 1,200 in United States, out of a total ethnic Míkmaq population of roughly 40,000. The word "Míkmaq" is a plural word meaning 'my friends' (singular "Míkm"); the adjectival form is "Míkmaw". The language's native name is "Míkmawísimk" or "Míkmwei" (in some dialects).