hun

Everyday

1. (history) The Huns were a nomadic people from Central Asia who rode into Europe in the 300s and 400s AD; their most famous leader was Attila. tree →
2. (slang, UK and Australia) «Hun» is a short form of «honey», used as a friendly or loving way to call someone, like «love» or «dear». tree →
3. (offensive, historical) In the First and Second World Wars «the Hun» was an insulting name British people used for German soldiers; it is not used for people today. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons the Huns appear with the fall of the Roman Empire and Attila the Hun. In everyday chat, especially in messages, «hun» is a warm word: «You OK, hun?». In old war stories and posters «the Hun» shows wartime hatred, so readers should notice it as name-calling. Phrases: «Attila the Hun», «thanks hun», «you alright hun?».

Examples

• Attila the Hun led his army across Europe. tree →
• The Huns fought on horseback and moved from place to place. tree →
• «Thanks for the cake, hun!» said Mum's friend. tree →
• «Don't cry, hun, it's only a scratch,» said the nurse. tree →
• Old wartime posters called German soldiers «the Hun». tree →
• The Romans feared the Huns more than almost any other enemy. tree →
• «Love you, hun x,» she wrote at the end of the text. tree →
• He searched, and found a large golden armlet of superior workmanship, and it was evident that the plough had disturbed a Hun's grave. tree →

Note

Capital «Hun» for the people; small «hun» for the friendly slang. The slang is informal: fine among friends and family, odd in a school essay. The war insult is offensive and only appears in history. Not the same as «Hungarian», although the name «Hungary» is sometimes wrongly linked to the Huns.