San

¹ American  

[sahn] / sɑn /

noun

plural

Sans,

plural

San

1. a member of a nomadic aboriginal people of southern Africa.

2. any of more than a dozen related Khoisan languages spoken by the San.

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San ² American  

[sahn] / sɑn /

noun

1. a river in central Europe, flowing from the Carpathian Mountains in W Ukraine through SE Poland into the Vistula: battles 1914–15. About 280 miles (450 km) long.

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-san ³ American  

1. a suffix used in Japanese as a term of respect after names or titles.

   Suzuki-san; samurai-san.

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San ¹ British  

/ sɑːn /

noun

1. an aboriginal people of southern Africa

2. a group of the Khoisan languages, spoken mostly by Bushmen

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San ² British  

/ sɑːn /

noun

1. a river in E central Europe, rising in W Ukraine and flowing northwest across SE Poland to the Vistula River. Length: about 450 km (280 miles)

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san ³ British  

/ sæn /

noun

1. old-fashioned short for sanatorium

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Etymology

Origin of -san

< Japanese, contraction of -sama suffix denoting direction, appearance, respect

Example Sentences

That has the San Francisco area on edge.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

The case occurred in an unvaccinated adult who had close contact with someone who had traveled internationally, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

And for those that way inclined, "around San Sebastian there's all these really good cider houses".

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

The recent attack on Sam Altman’s San Francisco mansion is the starkest example of this.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Pepe San Román and Erneido Oliva, the brigade’s commanders, were professional soldiers—both in their late twenties, both ex-officers in the Cuban army.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin