French Conversation · Level 68
60 words
French word
cheikh
Pronunciation
IPA/ʃɛk/
Meaning
- masculine nounsheikh
Example
Le cheikh a dirigé la prière à la mosquée.
The sheikh led the prayer at the mosque.
More examples
Le cheikh du village a réconcilié deux familles.
The village elder reconciled two families.
Core concept
An elder at the center of a mosque community, listened to for religious judgment and counsel.
Common phrases
le cheikh du village
the village elder
un cheikh respecté
a respected elder
Similar words
imam: The person who leads prayer and preaching in a mosque.
prêtre: A Christian cleric who performs religious services and rites and provides pastoral care.
aîné: A senior family or community member respected for advice and preserving traditions.
Definition in French
Personne respectée au sein d'une communauté musulmane, souvent âgée, exerçant une autorité religieuse ou morale et donnant des conseils.
Word origin
The French noun cheikh is borrowed from Arabic shaykh, a title for an elder or chief that also came to denote a religious authority.
Usage tips
- Imam usually identifies the person leading communal prayer, while cheikh more broadly signals an elder or respected religious authority.
Other meanings
- chieftainnoun
- eldernoun
- dignitarynoun
Opposites
- laïclaypersonnoun