Etymology Map
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Nun

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means a woman living in a religious community under vows

Where does the word "nun" come from? It comes from Late Latin nonna, passing through Old English before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
nonna
Late Latin · 500s
"elder woman; nun"
a respectful word for an elder, probably from nursery speech; the Rule of St Benedict tells younger monks to call their seniors nonnus, 'reverend father'
2
Stage 2 of 3
nunne
Old English · medieval
"nun"
Anglo-Saxon double monasteries of monks and nuns, like Whitby under Abbess Hild (d. 680), were ruled by women
3
Stage 3 of 3
nun
English · 1200s
"woman in a religious order"
reinforced by Old French nonne; Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536-41 closed every English convent
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Read the full story

Nun’s story begins in Late Latin: nonna meant “elder woman; nun.” A respectful word for an elder, probably from nursery speech; the Rule of St Benedict tells younger monks to call their seniors nonnus, 'reverend father'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old English as nunne. Anglo-Saxon double monasteries of monks and nuns, like Whitby under Abbess Hild (d. 680), were ruled by women. It reached English by 1200s as nun. Reinforced by Old French nonne; Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536-41 closed every English convent. Today, nun means a woman living in a religious community under vows.