* Mni (pronounced "mee-nee") meaning "water"
* Sota (pronounced "soh-tah") meaning "white"
Therefore, "Minneapolis" literally translates to "water white".
This name refers to the Minneapolis Falls, a series of rapids on the Mississippi River, which were known for their white, foamy water due to the limestone bedrock.
The name was officially adopted in 1856, although the settlement had previously been known as "St. Anthony Falls" after the nearby St. Anthony Falls, a prominent waterfall that is now located within the city.