# nous

> English word · Noun · IPA /naʊs/ · frequency rank #29,396

## Definitions
1. The mind or intellect, reason, both rational and emotional.
2. The divine reason, regarded as first divine emanation.
3. Common sense; practical intelligence.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek νοῦς (noûs) or νόος (nóos, “mind”).

## Easily confused with
- **nu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nu)
- **now** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-now)
- **nov** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nov)
- **nut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nut)
- **nun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nun)
- **NYU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nyu)
- **nuh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nuh)
- **nox** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nox)
- **Nur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nur)
- **NWS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nws)
- **nuts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nuts)
- **nova** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nova)
- **nuns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-nuns)
- **novi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-novi)
- **Noyes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nous-vs-noyes)
- **not** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nous)
- **non** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/non-vs-nous)
- **nor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nor-vs-nous)
- **NHS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nhs-vs-nous)
- **nod** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nod-vs-nous)

## Common misspellings (4)
`nnous`, `nosu`, `nouss`, `nuos`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/nous