name
Common
Ivan
EYE-vuhn
Ivan (name) means a male given name of Slavic origin, the Slavic equivalent of "John.". Example: “Ivan the Terrible was the first Tsar of Russia.”
name
1
A male given name of Slavic origin, the Slavic equivalent of "John."
"Ivan the Terrible was the first Tsar of Russia."
2
Informal, sometimes dated slang for a Russian or Soviet person collectively.
"Cold War-era films sometimes used "Ivan" as shorthand for the Soviet soldier."
How to use Ivan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe classic Russian equivalent of "John," and occasionally used informally as a nickname for Russians in general.
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_____ the Terrible was the first Tsar of Russia.
Etymology
From Russian Iván, a Slavic form of the same root that gives English "John," "Ian," "Sean," and "Giovanni."
Related words
Rhymes for Ivan
See all rhymes for Ivan →Frequently asked questions
What does “Ivan” mean?
The word “Ivan” means a male given name of Slavic origin, the Slavic equivalent of "John.". In plain terms, the classic Russian equivalent of "John," and occasionally used informally as a nickname for Russians in general.
How do you pronounce “Ivan”?
“Ivan” is pronounced EYE-vuhn (/ˈaɪ.vən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Ivan” in a sentence?
Here is “Ivan” used in a sentence: “Ivan the Terrible was the first Tsar of Russia.”
What part of speech is “Ivan”?
“Ivan” is a name.
Where does the word “Ivan” come from?
The word “Ivan” comes from Russian. From Russian Iván, a Slavic form of the same root that gives English "John," "Ian," "Sean," and "Giovanni.".
Is “Ivan” a common word?
“Ivan” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Ivan” have?
“Ivan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male given name of Slavic origin, the Slavic equivalent of "John.".
What is the English equivalent of the name Ivan?
Ivan is the Slavic equivalent of the name "John." It is a male given name of Slavic origin used across many Slavic-speaking countries.
Is Ivan used to refer to Russian people generally?
Informally, and sometimes in a dated way, Ivan has been used as slang for a Russian or Soviet person collectively, similar to how other national nicknames have been used for other nationalities. Its primary use, however, is as a personal given name.
Is Ivan a common name in Russia?
Ivan is a traditional and widely used male given name across Slavic-speaking countries, including Russia, as the Slavic equivalent of "John."
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