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Where does the word "ayatollah" come from? It comes from Arabic ayatu-llah, passing through Persian before entering English (1950).
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Where does the word "ayatollah" come from? It comes from Arabic ayatu-llah, passing through Persian before entering English (1950).
Ayatollah’s story begins in Arabic: ayatu-llah meant “sign of God.” Literally "miraculous sign of God". By 1900s, the word had taken hold in Persian as ayatollah. Arabic 'sign of God'; Ayatollah Khomeini's 1979 revolution made the title world-famous. It reached English by 1950 as ayatollah. Entered English through reporting on Iranian religious and political leaders. Today, ayatollah means a high-ranking Shiite religious leader and scholar in Iran.
- Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval ayatu-llah "sign of God", literally "miraculous sign of God".
- Stage 2 · Persian · 1900s ayatollah "high-ranking Shiite cleric", Arabic 'sign of God'; Ayatollah Khomeini's 1979 revolution made the title world-famous.
- Stage 3 · English · 1950 ayatollah "senior Shiite religious leader", entered English through reporting on Iranian religious and political leaders.