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

Noun

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

After that, Nazeer began working at an Afghan food market where customers would come in specifically for his naan. — Sarah Baniak, ABC News, 10 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

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

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