naan

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈnän ˈnan

variants or less commonly nan

: a round flat leavened bread especially of the Indian subcontinent

nan

2 of 2

noun (2)

less common spelling of naan

: a round flat leavened bread especially of the Indian subcontinent

Examples of naan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

This naan is one of the most versatile bread options at ALDI. — Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026 This store is the first H-E-B store to offer Masala House, an H-E-B product line of in-house meal options like chicken masala, butter chicken, naan, chutney dips and other items. — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026

Noun

The delicate shape still nods to classic ballet flats, but the slight heel gives everything a little more polish, making the pairing feel less Sunday lunch with your nan and more Copenhagen Fashion Week. — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2026 In West Virginia, there are nanas and nans, grams and grandmas, grannies, abuelas, and even some nonnas. — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for naan

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Hindi & Urdu & Persian; Hindi & Urdu nān bread, from Persian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of naan was in 1828

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

naam

naan

naartje

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to naan

Cite this Entry

Style

“Naan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naan. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Geographical Definition

Nan

geographical name

ˈnän

river 390 miles (628 kilometers) long in northern Thailand flowing south to join the Ping River forming the Chao Phraya River

naan

noun (1)

noun (2)

Examples of naan in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

A Great Big List of Bread Words

Name More Food

Cite this Entry

Geographical Definition

geographical name

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes