# Johannes

/dʒoʊˈhænəs/ (US) · /dʒˈəʊhænz/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/johannes
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a Latin form of the name John. You will mostly see this in old books, historical documents, or when talking about famous people from the past.

For teachers: the Latinate form of the masculine given name John. Primarily encountered in historical, theological, or academic contexts referring to figures from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance.

## Examples

- The old document was signed by Johannes.
- Historians often refer to the inventor of the printing press as Johannes Gutenberg.
- The scholarly text meticulously cataloged the various Latin aliases used by the author, noting that Johannes was the most frequent signature on his early correspondence.

## Usage notes

- Used as a proper noun; almost exclusively restricted to historical contexts or specific European naming traditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.