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

The menu focuses on Cal-Indian food with dishes such as kebabs, paneer, naan and roti. — Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026 The butter chicken chops are a must, of course, but so are the wagyu kheema naan, chicken tikka chaat, and the kali mirch beef kabab. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 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

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Browse Nearby Words

naam

naan

naartje

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Articles Related to naan

Cite this Entry

Style

“Naan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naan. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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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

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