# Dakota

/dəˈkoʊtə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dakota
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. Native American people

noun · CEFR B2

a group of Native American people, also known as the Santee Sioux.

For teachers: a member of the Santee branch of the Sioux people, or the people collectively.

- The Dakota people have a rich history in the northern plains of North America.
- Scholars of indigenous history often study the migration patterns and cultural traditions of the Dakota across the upper Midwest.

### 2. a language

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the language spoken by the Dakota people.

For teachers: a Siouan language spoken by the Santee branch of the Sioux people.

- She is learning to speak Dakota to connect with her ancestors.
- The preservation of the Dakota language is a primary focus for tribal educators working to maintain linguistic diversity within the region.

### 3. U.S. states

noun · CEFR B1

a way to refer to either North Dakota or South Dakota in the United States.

For teachers: either of the two U.S. states, North Dakota or South Dakota, often used in historical or regional contexts.

- He spent the summer traveling through the Dakotas to see the national parks.
- The expansion of the railway through the Dakota Territory in the late nineteenth century preceded the eventual statehood of the two regions.

### 4. an aircraft

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Technical

a famous type of transport plane used especially during World War II.

For teachers: the British and Commonwealth military designation for the Douglas DC-3 transport aircraft.

- The old Dakota plane was used to drop supplies to the soldiers.
- During the Berlin Airlift, the Dakota proved to be a reliable workhorse for transporting essential goods under challenging conditions.

Usage: Usually refers specifically to the military version of the Douglas DC-3.

## Examples

- The old Dakota plane flew over the field during the air show.
- During the invasion, hundreds of Dakota aircraft dropped paratroopers behind enemy lines under the cover of darkness.
- Historians often cite the Dakota as one of the four most significant weapons of the war, alongside the jeep, the bazooka, and the atomic bomb.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.