Jean (French Pronunciation)278

The French name Jean is a masculine given name that is cognate with the English name John. It is derived from the Latin "Johannes," which is the Latinized form of the Greek name "IΩάννης" (Iōannēs), meaning "God is gracious." Jean is a common name in France and other French-speaking countries, and it has also been adopted in English-speaking countries as a given name and a surname.

The pronunciation of Jean in French is different from the pronunciation of John in English. In French, the name Jean is pronounced with a nasal vowel, represented by the letter "e" with a circumflex accent (ê). The "j" is pronounced as a soft "zh" sound, and the "n" is pronounced as a nasal consonant. The approximate pronunciation of Jean in English is "zhahn."

There are many notable people who have the name Jean, including:
Jean-François Champollion (1790-1832), French Egyptologist who deciphered the Rosetta Stone
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687), French composer and musician
Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721), French painter
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), French philosopher and writer
Jean-Paul Marat (1743-1793), French revolutionary leader
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867), French painter
Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904), French painter
Jean Cocteau (1889-1963), French poet, novelist, and filmmaker
Jean-Luc Godard (born 1930), French film director
Jean-Claude Van Damme (born 1960), Belgian actor and martial artist

The name Jean is also used as a surname in French-speaking countries. Some notable people with the surname Jean include:
René Jean (1872-1931), French actor
Yvonne Jean (1909-1994), French actress
Paul-Marie Jean (born 1953), French politician

The name Jean is a popular and versatile name that can be used as a given name or a surname. It is a name that has been borne by many notable people throughout history, and it continues to be a popular choice for parents in French-speaking countries and beyond.

2024-11-04

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