Save Type River & Settlement Usage English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch Pronounced Pron. /ˈɑt.ə.wɑ/(English) /ɔ.ta.wa/(French) /o.ˈta.wa/(Spanish) [key·simplify] Meaning & History From the name of the Odawa or Ottawa people, derived from Ojibwe odaawaa meaning "trader". This is the name of a river and the capital city of Canada. Related Names Rootodaawaa