ENGLISH
REFERENCE

james

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈdʒeɪmz// james

n. a common English name for a man or boy. It is a classic name that has been popular for hundreds of years.

n. a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the same root as Jacob. It is a proper noun and is always capitalized.


SIMPLE

My brother's name is James.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager introduced us to James, the new head of the marketing department.

COMPLEX

Throughout English history, the name James has been associated with royalty, most notably the Stuart kings who reigned during the seventeenth century.

Antonyms
Origin

The English New Testament form of Jacob, from Middle English James, from Old French James, from Vulgar Latin Iācōmus, spoken and altered pronunciation of Latin Iācōbus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Ἰακώβ (Iakṓb), from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿăqōḇ). Doublet of Jacques, Jacob, Iago, Jago, Yago, Hamish, Seamus, Tiago, and Santiago. In reference to the Ecuadorian island, a modification of the earlier name Duke of York's Island after its eponymous duke's coronation as James II of England. See Occitan Jacme for an intermediary between Old French James and Catalan Jaume.

Usage

As a proper noun, it is always capitalized. It can be used as a countable noun when referring to multiple people with the same name.

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