What does naan mean?
Naan is a thick, soft, leavened flatbread associated with South Asian cooking, especially in northern India, Pakistan, and adjoining regions. It is traditionally stretched and baked against the hot wall of a tandoor, producing a lightly blistered or charred surface and a tender interior. In restaurants in Britain, North America, and elsewhere, “naan” usually refers to this bread and commonly appears in dishes such as garlic naan or alongside curry. The word also names one of several South Asian breads, so recipes and styles called naan can differ by region, thickness, and cooking method. Naan is generally an informal culinary term rather than a general word for bread. It entered English through South Asian culinary usage and ultimately comes from Persian nān, meaning “bread.” Its simple ingredients and distinctive tandoor cooking have made it a familiar feature of international restaurant vocabulary.
nounA thick, soft, leavened flatbread of South Asian origin, traditionally cooked in a tandoor and often served with curries or other dishes.
- A thick, soft, leavened South Asian flatbread, traditionally baked in a tandoor and often eaten with curries or other savory dishes.
"The meal came with fragrant naan and a bowl of spicy curry."
"The naan was still warm when it arrived with the curry."
"She ordered garlic naan and a bottle of water for dinner."
Naan is usually treated as a mass noun, but the plural naans is used when individual breads are being counted.
"The order included two naans and two vegetable curries."
Naan comes ultimately from Persian nān, meaning “bread”—so its name, in effect, simply identifies the food.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does naan come from?
The English culinary noun came through South Asian languages, especially Urdu and Hindi, from Persian nān, meaning “bread.” Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi forms preserve the same word, while the English spelling became established for the South Asian bread in culinary contexts. The precise style of bread designated by naan varies across South Asia and according to the method used to cook it.
How naan is actually used
The term is most natural in culinary and restaurant contexts. Outside South Asia, it usually refers specifically to the leavened tandoor-baked flatbread rather than to bread generally.
Easily confused with naan
In informal British English, nan can mean grandmother, whereas naan denotes a South Asian flatbread.