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How did the Ojibwe name Nadouessioux become the word Sioux?

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A Cheyenne River Sioux dancer in colorful traditional regalia performs during the Grand Entry at a powwow, with an American flag and other participants in the background. — Oceti Sakowin A member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe performing during the Grand Entry at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Fair Rodeo and Powwow, Eagle Butte, South Dakota, September 4, 2016.

The term "Sioux" is a shortened version of the French spelling Nadouessioux, which was derived from an Ojibwe word for the Oceti Sakowin people.12

While the name is commonly associated with the Ojibwe word natowessiwak—often translated as "little snakes" or "adders" to denote "enemies"—linguistic evidence suggests a more nuanced origin. Many scholars trace the term to the Algonquian root na:towe:ssi (plural: na:towe:ssiwak), which originates from a verb meaning "to speak a foreign language".13

It is important to recognize that "Sioux" is an exonym—a name applied by outsiders—rather than the people's own name for themselves. The Oceti Sakowin (meaning "Seven Council Fires") is the accurate, self-identified name for this alliance of peoples, who refer to themselves as Dakota, Nakota, or Lakota, terms that signify "friendly" or "ally".13