French word

sultan

Pronunciation

IPA/syltɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsultan

Example

Le sultan a invité des ambassadeurs.

The sultan invited ambassadors.

Illustration for sultan (sultan)

More examples

Les décisions du sultan influencent tout le pays.

The sultan's decisions influence the whole country.

Core concept

A crowned Muslim ruler whose court represents both government and military command.

Similar words

roi: A king who rules a country.
empereur: An emperor who controls a vast territory or several countries.
monarque: A ruler who holds power in a monarchy.
dirigeant: A leader who heads an organization or country.

Definition in French

Titre porté dans le monde musulman pour un souverain ou un chef qui détient l'autorité politique et souvent le commandement militaire.

Word origin

The French noun sultan is borrowed from Arabic sulṭān, a word for authority or power that developed into a ruler's title.

Usage tips

  • Sultan belongs mainly to historical, political, or cultural contexts in French and is not normally used as a form of address.

Other meanings

  • rulernoun

Word lists with this word