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Definition of nakota

nakota

/nəˈkoʊtə/
Na · ko · ta

Plural:Nakota
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nakota Lexical Profile

• noun

1

North American A member of a group of Native American peoples of the Great Plains, specifically the Yankton and Yanktonai bands, belonging to the broader Sioux Nation.

Example

"The Nakota traditionally inhabited areas of what are now the Dakotas and Minnesota."


2

North American The Siouan language or dialect continuum spoken by the Nakota people.

Example

"Efforts are underway in several communities to preserve and teach Nakota to the younger generation."

• adjective

1

North American Relating to the Nakota people, their history, culture, or language.

Example

"The museum featured an impressive collection of Nakota beadwork and traditional garments."

Word Nuance & Usage

Nakota is often grouped with Dakota and Lakota to describe the three major historical linguistic and cultural divisions of the Sioux Nation. It specifically refers to the Yankton and Yanktonai bands, and sometimes historically included the Assiniboine and Stoney peoples.

• Rhymes for nakota

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the indigenous autonym 'Nakhóta', meaning 'friend' or 'ally' in the language of the Yankton and Yanktonai peoples.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nakota. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nakota
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