name
Uncommon
Anita
uh-NEE-tuh
Anita (name) means a female given name, a Spanish diminutive of Ana ("Ann"). Example: “Anita moved to Madrid to study architecture.”
name
1
A female given name, a Spanish diminutive of Ana ("Ann").
"My Aunt said she had some sense of the fitness of things and that she could not call a great, fat, quiet, blonde child a little, quick, dark name like Anita, and it wasn't what my mother had named me anyway."
— McClure's Magazine, S.S. McClure Limited (1906)
"Anita moved to Madrid to study architecture."
How to use Anita
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA common Spanish-language first name meaning roughly "little Ann."
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_____ moved to Madrid to study architecture.
Etymology
From Spanish Anita, a diminutive of Ana, itself derived from the Hebrew name Hannah ("grace").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Anita
See all rhymes for Anita →Frequently asked questions
What does “Anita” mean?
The word “Anita” means a female given name, a Spanish diminutive of Ana ("Ann"). In plain terms, a common Spanish-language first name meaning roughly "little Ann.".
How do you pronounce “Anita”?
“Anita” is pronounced uh-NEE-tuh (/əˈniːtə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Anita” in a sentence?
Here is “Anita” used in a sentence: “Anita moved to Madrid to study architecture.”
What part of speech is “Anita”?
“Anita” is a name.
Where does the word “Anita” come from?
The word “Anita” comes from Spanish. From Spanish Anita, a diminutive of Ana, itself derived from the Hebrew name Hannah ("grace").
Is “Anita” a common word?
“Anita” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the origin of the name "Anita"?
"Anita" is a female given name that originated as a Spanish diminutive of "Ana," the Spanish form of "Ann" or "Anna." It has since spread well beyond Spanish-speaking countries as a name in its own right.
Is "Anita" related to the name "Ann" or "Anna"?
Yes, "Anita" developed as an affectionate, diminutive form of "Ana" (the Spanish equivalent of "Ann" or "Anna"), similar to how "Annie" functions as a diminutive of "Ann" in English.
Is "Anita" used in languages other than Spanish?
While it originated in Spanish, "Anita" is now used as a given name in many languages and cultures, including English, without necessarily carrying its original diminutive sense.
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