English

Noun

proper noun ‎(plural proper nouns)

1. (grammar) A noun denoting a particular person, place, organization, ship, animal, event, or other individual entity

Usage notes

In English, a proper noun is normally not preceded by an article or limiting modifier and is normally written with an initial capital letter. However, some proper nouns are preceded by articles (such as the Netherlands) and some are uncapitalized (kd lang), and many common (non-proper) nouns are also capitalized, like European. Some references erroneously conflate whether a noun is common or proper with whether it is capitalized or not, although these are not the same.

Synonyms

• nomen proprium, noun substantive proper, proper substantive, proper name, substantive proper
• selfname

Antonyms

• common noun (common name), appellative noun (nomen appellativum)

Hypernyms

• noun (substantive, substantive noun)

Translations

See also

• Appendix:English proper nouns
• Appendix:Glossary