Hun

[huhn]

noun

1. a member of a nomadic and warlike Asian people who devastated or controlled large parts of eastern and central Europe and who exercised their greatest power under Attila in the 5th century a.d.

2. (often lowercase),  a barbarous, destructive person; vandal.

3. Older Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.,  a contemptuous term used to refer to a German, especially a German soldier in World War I or II.

Hun

/ hʌn /

noun

1. a member of any of several Asiatic nomadic peoples speaking Mongoloid or Turkic languages who dominated much of Asia and E Europe from before 300 _bc , invading the Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries _a.d

2. informal,  (esp in World War I) a derogatory name for a German

3. informal,  a vandal

Sensitive Note

The disparaging and offensive use of this term likens the Germans to the barbarous and warlike Huns of the 4th and 5th centuries. The source of the comparison was a speech by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1900, encouraging German soldiers bound for China to act toward the Chinese just like “the Huns a thousand years ago.”

Other Word Forms

• Hunlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hun¹

before 900; 1895–1900 Hun for def. 3; singular of Huns, Old English Hūnas; cognate with Old Norse Hūnar; akin to Late Latin Hunnī

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hun¹

Old English Hūnas, from Late Latin Hūnī, from Turkish Hun-yū

Example Sentences

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet - who succeeded his father Hun Sen in 2023 - has denied that the government was involved in Lim's killing.

From BBC

Paetongtarn was embroiled in controversy after Cambodian leader Hun Sen leaked a phone call he had with her over the Thai-Cambodia border conflict, in which she was heard addressing him as "uncle".

From BBC

It is hard to know why a cunning and experienced politician like Hun Sen chose to destroy his old friendship with the Shinawatra family and escalate the border tension.

From BBC

The call, leaked by Hun Sen himself, damaged her reputation and critics accused her of undermining the country's army.

From BBC

In it, Paetongtarn could be heard being conciliatory towards Hun Sen over their countries' border dispute, and criticising one of her own army commanders.

From BBC

When To Use

What else does hun mean?

Hun can be a term of endearment, a phonetic spelling from a shortening of honey. It's also used as a derogatory slang term for women involved in multi-level marketing.