/fɑn/ /fɔn/; /vɑn/ /vɔn/; German: [foːn] ( listen)

Definitions

1. noun

a preposition used in German surnames to denote nobility, e.g., ‘Baron von Hagen’.

“The aristocrat was known as Baron von Hagen throughout his life.”

2. preposition

used to indicate origin or place of origin, especially in German surnames.

“He was born in Berlin, Germany, and his family hailed from the von Hagen clan.”

3. prefix

a German prefix meaning ‘from’, ‘of’, or ‘originally from’, used in surnames and other words.

“The von prefix is commonly seen in German names, such as von Hagen or von Müller.”

4. verb

to speak or pronounce with a guttural or nasal tone, especially in the manner of a German accent.

“He tried to von his words, but it only made him sound more awkward.”