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Ayatollah vs Shah - What's the difference?

ayatollah | shah |

As nouns the difference between ayatollah and shah

is that ayatollah is a religious leader in Twelver Shi'ism while shah is a king of Persia or Iran.

As a proper noun Shah is

a common surname in India.

ayatollah

English

Alternative forms

* ayatolla

Noun

(wikipedia ayatollah) (en noun)
  • A religious leader in Twelver Shi'ism.

    • shah

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * schah

    Noun

    (en noun) (wikipedia shah)
  • A king of Persia or Iran.
  • A supreme ruler in some Middle Eastern or South Asian nations.
    • Usage notes
    The wife of the last shah of Iran used the title shahbanu , which was translated as empress into English.
    Derived terms
    * shahdom * shahmukhi

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (Ukrainian shah) (en noun)
  • (historical) An Ukrainian monetary unit.

    • Anagrams

    * * English terms derived from Persian ----