Dakota

The word “Dakota” means a Native American people, part of the Sioux, and the Siouan language they speak. In plain terms, refers to the Dakota Native American people and language, or to the states named after them.

“Dakota” is pronounced duh-KOH-tuh (/dəˈkəʊtə/ in IPA).

Here is “Dakota” used in a sentence: “The reservation preserves Dakota language and traditions.”

“Dakota” is a name.

“Dakota” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Dakota” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Native American people, part of the Sioux, and the Siouan language they speak.

Dakota and Lakota are both divisions of the Sioux people, distinguished mainly by dialect of the same Siouan language and by historical territory. Dakota speakers traditionally lived further east, while Lakota speakers lived further west on the Great Plains.

The Dakotas is an informal way of referring to the two U.S. states of North Dakota and South Dakota together. It is common in contexts such as weather reports and travel writing, where the two states are treated as a single region.

Yes. Dakota is a Siouan language spoken by the Dakota people, who form part of the Sioux. The same word names both the people and their language, so context tells you which is meant.

Yes. The Dakota are a Native American people who form part of the larger Sioux nation, alongside related divisions such as the Lakota. The U.S. states of North Dakota and South Dakota take their name from this people.