German word

Sultan

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈzʊltaːn/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsultan

Example

Viele Sultane herrschten über das große Reich.

Many sultans ruled over the great empire.

Illustration for Sultan (sultan)

More examples

Der regierende Sultan empfing ausländische Gesandte im Palast.

The reigning sultan received foreign envoys at the palace.

Core concept

A Muslim monarch seated at the center of a historical court, with authority over a kingdom.

Common phrases

  • der regierende Sultan

    reigning sultan

  • das Amt des Sultan

    sultan's office

  • ein erblicher Sultan

    hereditary sultan

Similar words

König: A monarch who rules a secular state and holds a royal title.
Kaiser: A high-ranking monarch who rules an empire of several peoples or kingdoms.
Kalif: A historical Muslim leader combining religious authority with secular rule.
Emir: A title for a tribal or regional leader with possible military or administrative power.

Definition in German

Bezeichnung für einen historischen muslimischen Herrscher, heute meist in geschichtlichen oder kulturellen Kontexten gebraucht.

Word origin

Sultan comes from Arabic sulṭān, meaning power or authority, and entered European languages through forms used in Turkish and other languages.

Usage tips

  • Sultan is masculine in German, with the plural Sultane and the genitive singular Sultans.

Opposites

  • Untertansubjectnoun

Related words

  • Sultanatsultanatenoun
  • sultanischsultanicadjective
  • Sultaninsultananoun

Word lists with this word