Where does “ayatollah” come from?
ayatollah (Dutch) comes from Persian آیتالله, from Arabic آيَةُ اللّٰه — sign of God.
ayatollah (Dutch): a religious leader in Twelver Shi'ism
Definitions
- a religious leader in Twelver Shi'ism
Ancestry of “ayatollah”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Persian | آیتالله | ayatollah; Ayatollah |
| 2 | Arabic | آيَةُ اللّٰه | sign of God |