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 مَوْلَى →Every word from Classical Persian ملا →Every word from Arabic مُلَّا →