Hans Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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Hans

[hænz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

person's name

A male given name, originally a short form of Johannes. Common in Germany and other German-speaking countries.

Synonyms

John.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
Hans	Often used in German-speaking countries. Suitable for someone of German origin or when referencing a German culture or context. Hans loves to play the violin Hans grew up in a small village in Germany

Examples of usage

Hans is coming to visit us next week.
Do you know Hans from the office?

^{Context #2 | Noun}

fairy tale character

A character in the fairy tale 'Hansel and Gretel', known for being the brother of Gretel and for his resourcefulness in finding a way back home from the witch's house in the forest.

Synonyms

brother.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
Hans	This is a proper noun and is used as a given name for a male individual. Use it when referring to someone whose name is Hans. Hans is coming to the party tonight. I spoke with Hans about the project.
brother	Often used to refer to a male sibling or metaphorically to a close male friend. This can be used in both familial and friendly contexts. My brother and I went fishing last weekend. He's like a brother to me; we've known each other since childhood.

Word

Description / Examples

Hans

This is a proper noun and is used as a given name for a male individual. Use it when referring to someone whose name is Hans.

Hans is coming to the party tonight.
I spoke with Hans about the project.

brother

Often used to refer to a male sibling or metaphorically to a close male friend. This can be used in both familial and friendly contexts.

My brother and I went fishing last weekend.
He's like a brother to me; we've known each other since childhood.

Examples of usage

Hans and Gretel found their way home using the breadcrumbs.
The story of Hansel and Gretel is a popular fairy tale.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

slang

A term used informally to refer to a person whose name is not known or forgotten.

Synonyms

dude, guy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
Hans	This is a duplicate entry, so it has the same context and examples as the first one. It can be ignored or consolidated with the first entry. Hans is a very punctual person. Did you meet Hans at the conference?
guy	A more neutral term used to refer to a male person. Can be used in both casual and slightly formal situations. Did the new guy join our team yet? There’s a guy waiting for you at the reception.
dude	Informal and commonly used among friends, typically in casual settings. Often used in American English, especially among younger people. Hey dude, what's up? Dude, you have to see this movie!

Word

Description / Examples

Hans

This is a duplicate entry, so it has the same context and examples as the first one. It can be ignored or consolidated with the first entry.

Hans is a very punctual person.
Did you meet Hans at the conference?

guy

A more neutral term used to refer to a male person. Can be used in both casual and slightly formal situations.

Did the new guy join our team yet?
There’s a guy waiting for you at the reception.

dude

Informal and commonly used among friends, typically in casual settings. Often used in American English, especially among younger people.

Hey dude, what's up?
Dude, you have to see this movie!

Examples of usage

Hey, do you know where Hans went?
I saw Hans at the party last night.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'Hans'

The name 'Hans' has Germanic roots and is a short form of the name Johannes, which means 'God is gracious'. It has been a popular name in Germany and other German-speaking countries for many years. The character of Hans in the fairy tale 'Hansel and Gretel' is known for his bravery and cleverness. In slang, 'Hans' is sometimes used as a placeholder name for a person whose name is unknown.