Meanings
nounXiongnu pl (plural only)
alternative Hsiung-nu · alternative Hsiung-Nu · alternative Hiong-Nu · alternative Hiong-nu · alternative Hung-nu · alternative Hunnu
- historicalpluralplural onlyAn ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han dynasty.
Origin
- Mandarin匈奴
- EnglishXiongnu
Borrowed from the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of Mandarin 匈奴 (Xiōngnú). Possibly a doublet of Hun; their relationship to the Huns is disputed.
More words from Mandarin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic شيونغنو
- شيونغنوancient nomadic-based people
Chinese Mandarin 匈奴
- 匈奴 (Xiōngnú)ancient nomadic-based people
Finnish xiongnut, xiongnu-kansa
- xiongnutancient nomadic-based people
- xiongnu-kansaancient nomadic-based people
French Xiongnu
- Xiongnuancient nomadic-based people
Japanese 匈奴
- 匈奴 (kyōdo)ancient nomadic-based people
Korean 흉노
- 흉노 (hyungno)ancient nomadic-based people
Persian شیونگنو
- شیونگنو (fârs)ancient nomadic-based people
Polish Xiongnu
- Xiongnuancient nomadic-based people
Russian ху́нну, хунну́
- ху́нну (xúnnu)ancient nomadic-based people
- хунну́ (xunnú)ancient nomadic-based people
- сю́нну (sjúnnu)ancient nomadic-based people
- сюнну́ (sjunnú)ancient nomadic-based people
Turkish Asya Hun, Hiung Nu
- Asya Hunancient nomadic-based people
- Hiung Nuancient nomadic-based people
Vietnamese Hung Nô
- Hung Nôancient nomadic-based people
Cite this entry
APA
Xiongnu. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Xiongnu
MLA
“Xiongnu.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Xiongnu. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Xiongnu,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Xiongnu.
Source: Xiongnu on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.