LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

nānus

nānus m (genitive nānī)
Classical[ˈnaː.nʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈnaː.nus]

Meaning

  1. dwarf
  2. small horse

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativenānusnānī
genitivenānīnānōrum
dativenānōnānīs
accusativenānumnānōs
ablativenānōnānīs
vocativenānenānī

nānus, i, m., = νάννος and νᾶνος (cf. Gell. 19, 13, 2 sq.); in vulg. lang.,
I. a dwarf (pure Lat. pumilio): interrogatum a quodam nano, Suet. Tib. 61; Prop. 4 (5), 8, 41; Juv. 8, 32.—
B. In fem.: nāna, ae, a female dwarf: nanos et nanas et moriones populo donavit, Lampr. Alex. Sev. 34.—
II. Transf.
A. A small horse, Helv. Cinn. ap. Gell. 19, 13, 5; cf. id. ib. § 4.—
B. A low, shallow water-vessel: vas aquarium vocant futim ... quo postea accessit nanus cum Graeco nomine, et cum Latino nomine, Graecā figurā barbatus, Varr. L. L. 5, § 119 Müll.; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 176 ib.

Origins

Borrowed from Ancient Greek νᾶνος (nânos, “dwarf”).

Descendants
  • Catalannan
  • Englishnano-
  • Frenchnain
  • Italiannano
  • Occitannan
  • Portugueseanão
  • Romaniannan
  • Sardiniannanu
  • Spanishenano
  • Asturiannanu

Quick answers

What does nānus mean in Latin?
nānus, a noun, means “dwarf; small horse”.
What is the genitive of nānus?
The genitive singular is nānī. nānus is masculine, second declension.
How do you pronounce nānus?
In classical Latin, [ˈnaː.nʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈnaː.nus].