Jump To:

• Nan
  Nan

  noun

  a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter N.
• nan-
  nan-

  variant of nano- before a vowel.
• nan
  nan

  noun

  a child's words for grandmother

Nan

¹ American  

[nan] / næn /

noun

1. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter N.

2. a female given name.

---

nan- ² American  

1. variant of nano- before a vowel.

   nanoid.

---

nan British  

/ næn, ˈnænə /

noun

1. a child's words for grandmother

---

Usage

What does nan- mean? Nan- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “very small, minute.” In names of units of measure, it means "one billionth." It is very occasionally used in scientific and technical terms. Nan- comes from Greek nânos or nánnos, meaning “dwarf.”What are variants of nan-?Nan- is a variant of nano-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use nano- article.

Etymology

Origin of nan

see _nanny ; compare Greek nanna aunt, Medieval Latin nonna old woman

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Nan nan

Chinese consumers have "matured a lot", becoming more discerning, said Jing Daily's Nan.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

At a public hearing last month, Nan Trout, who lives near the beach, presented the committee with a long list of reasons to keep the ban in place.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026

Hiding in plain sight that night, among the patrons scattered throughout the museum, was photographer and activist Nan Goldin, along with several members of her advocacy group, P.A.I.N.

From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2026

There will be full live Sportsound commentary of both qualifiers on BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Nan Gaidheal and BBC Sounds.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2025

Nan wasn’t hooked up to any of them, but even so, after a while it felt like each beep was talking to me.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Jade said her nan was alerted by the smell of burning from the living room on Thursday afternoon and fled to join neighbours in the street who were also raising the alarm.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

She said her grandfather died 10 years ago and her nan had happened to take off the gold wedding ring she wore, about half an hour before the fire.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Earlier this year Western Isles council – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – said it would consider building tunnels or bridges across the Sounds of Harris and Barra.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

"It is really good to go back to Longford and Leitrim, go back to where our granddad went to school, where our nan grew up, it was very special."

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

“Your nan could never understand why Louise and I loved this show.”

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan