French word

nom

Pronunciation

IPA/nɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounname

Example

Quel est ton nom ?

What's your name?

Illustration for nom (name)

More examples

Pouvez-vous épeler votre nom ?

Can you spell your name?

Core concept

A spoken or written label that identifies a person, object, or concept, while nom also labels the class of naming words.

Common phrases

  • nom de famille

    surname

  • prénom et nom

    first and last name

  • changer de nom

    change one's name

Similar words

prénom: The name given to a person at birth for everyday use.
nom de famille: The name shared by members of a family or lineage.
nom propre: A name that identifies one particular person, place, or thing.
surnom: An informal name used by friends or a group instead of a person's real name.

Definition in French

Mot qui sert à identifier une personne, un objet ou un concept; il désigne aussi, en linguistique, la catégorie grammaticale des noms (substantifs).

Word origin

French inherited nom from Latin nomen through Old French, preserving the everyday sense of a name and extending it to the grammatical sense of noun.

Usage tips

  • The final m in nom is silent, and the word is pronounced with a nasal vowel, roughly like the vowel in French bon.

Other meanings

  • surnamenoun
  • nounnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word