ana

Everyday

1. Ana is mostly a girl's name, a form of Anna, common in Spanish and Portuguese. tree →
2. As an ending, -ana (also -iana) means a collection of things about a person or place: «Victoriana» = things from Queen Victoria's time; «Americana» = things typical of American culture. tree →
3. As a rare noun, «ana» means a collection of sayings or stories about someone. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and stories you will meet Ana as a name (Ana in a book, a classmate). In history lessons and museums words like «Victoriana» or «Americana» describe old objects from a time or place. As a word on its own it is very rare; it may also be a piece of a longer word (banana, Montana).

Examples

• Ana is my best friend's name. tree →
• Ana lives with her grandma in Madrid. tree →
• The museum shop sells Victoriana, like old toys and lamps. tree →
• The diner was full of Americana: neon signs and old posters. tree →
• «Ana» is the Spanish form of Anna. tree →
• Montana and Indiana end in -ana. tree →
• The book is a collection of ana about a famous poet. tree →
• Ana wrote her name on the board. tree →
• “Would you have got as good poems by the Shannon or the Suir or by sweet Ana Life’?” tree →

Note

A name is written with a capital letter: Ana. As a word on its own it is mostly a fragment or name, rarely used. Do not confuse with «Anna» (same name, two n's) or with abbreviations like ANA.