Traditionally, the Peoria spoke a dialect of the Miami-Illinois language. The name "Peoria" comes from their autonym (name for themselves) in the Illinois language, "peewaareewa" (modern pronunciation "peewaalia"). It first meant "Comes carrying a pack on his back." No speakers of the Peoria language are alive; However, the Peoria Language (got people again who could speak some of the language, or) was revitalized in August 2022 by a 10-week online course that was made available by the tribe.