Etymologically
Log in

nana

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the French word nana

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1949 Esnault More words from the 20th century
Ultimate origin
French Anna

Pronunciation

Forms

nana f (plural nanas)[1]

Etymology

It is a diminutive of the given name Anne, from French Anna, used as a common noun.[2][3][4][5][6][7][1] It was popularised by the heroine of Émile Zola's novel Nana (1880 according to the TLFi, 1879 according to Rey) and supported by the expressive root ⟨nann-⟩ of néné and nénette.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded by Esnault in 1949, in slang, for a woman living with a pimp, or a mistress.[2][5][3]

Semantic evolution

First a slang word for a pimp's woman, nana became a widespread familiar word for any woman or girl (1952), often paired with mec “man, guy”.[2][3] In speech it is now neutral, hardly familiar, and it is still used for a man's girlfriend.[3] The GLLF dates the sense “mistress, concubine” to the Robert of 1970.[5]

Timeline

  • 1880 – Zola's novel Nana popularises the name.[2]
  • 1949 – Esnault records it in slang for a pimp's woman.[2][5]
  • 1952 – Used of any woman.[2][5]
  • 1970 – The Robert records the sense “mistress”.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (familiar) A woman or girl; a chick: une nana sympa.[2][8][6]
  2. (familiar) A man's girlfriend or partner: Paul est arrivé avec sa nana.[9][8][3]
  3. (slang, dated) A prostitute, considered in relation to her pimp; a mistress, a concubine.[2][5]
  • nénette
  • néné
  • mec

Usage notes

In the French of Togo, nana benz is a rich woman cloth trader, nana there being apparently a variant of mama.[3] A separate interjection nana “goodbye”, from Tahitian, is used in the French of Polynesia, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 605a
  8. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry

“Nana.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/nana. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·