Skip to content

nonne

nun

noun NON Rare

Origin: From Old French none, from ecclesiastical Latin nonna (nun).

Usage Note

Nonne is the standard word for a Catholic nun living under religious vows. Religieuse is a more formal alternative, and sœur (sister) is the usual form of address. Religieuse also refers to a cream-puff pastry shaped like a nun's habit — a fun cultural note for learners.

Examples

"La nonne priait en silence."

Natural Translation

The nun prayed in silence.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic