Dakota
/dəˈkoʊ.tə/noun
A member of a Native American people of the northern Great Plains; also the name of their language and of U.S. states and places.
Did you know?Dakota is an exonym used in English for the Dakota branch of the Sioux peoples; in their own language, the related self-designation reflects a sense of alliance and friendship rather than a single tribal label.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Siouan
PS
*dakhóta?
“Reconstructed ancestor of the Dakota self-designation, likely connected with the idea of allies or friends”
Dakota language
Dak
Dakȟóta
“The Dakota people; allied, friendly people”
19th Century
English
Dakota
“Name adopted into English for the Dakota people and later for U.S. geographic names”
Modern English
English
Dakota
“A member of the Dakota people; also used in place names and personal names”