Where does “mulá” come from?

mulá (Portuguese) comes from Arabic مُلَّا, from Classical Persian ملا, from Arabic مَوْلَى — vicar, guardian; lord; Lord.

mulá (Portuguese): mullah

Definitions

  1. mullah

Ancestry of “mulá”, step by step

mulá traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Arabic مُلَّا

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicمُلَّا
2Classical Persianملا
3Arabicمَوْلَىvicar, guardian; lord; Lord

via Old Portuguese mula

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Portuguesemula
Every word from Arabic مَوْلَىEvery word from Classical Persian ملاEvery word from Arabic مُلَّا
mulá — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer