Based on the f-oscillator formalism, we introduce a nonlinear Jaynes–Cummings model (NJCM) which is constructed from the standard JCM by deforming the single-mode field operators. Such a generalization of the JCM describes the interaction of a two-level atom with a single mode of the electromagnetic field in the presence of a nonlinear Kerr-like medium. Since the medium is modelled as an f-oscillator, it is possible to consider the field f-coherent states (nonlinear coherent states) and their evolution.