Nîmes
/niːm/noun
A city in southern France, historically known for its Roman monuments and textile industry.
Did you know?Nîmes was called Nemausus in antiquity, probably after a Gaulish water or nature deity associated with a sacred grove, though the exact meaning remains debated.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Roman Gaul
Gaulish
Nemausus
“The ancient name of the settlement, probably connected with a local deity or sacred natural site; the precise meaning is uncertain.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
Nemausus
“Roman form of the city’s name, preserved in inscriptions and administrative usage.”
Late Antiquity
Late Latin
Nemausum
“A Latinized place-name referring to the Roman city and its surrounding territory.”
11th–12th Century
Old Occitan
Nimes
“Medieval forms of the place-name developed in Occitan usage.”
Modern French
French
Nîmes
“The modern city name, written with a circumflex accent.”