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noun Common

shah

shah

Shah (noun) means a historical title for the king or ruler of Persia (modern-day Iran). Example: “The last Shah of Iran was overthrown in the 1979 revolution.”

noun
1
A historical title for the king or ruler of Persia (modern-day Iran).
"The last Shah of Iran was overthrown in the 1979 revolution."
2
More broadly, a supreme ruler in certain Central, South, or West Asian states.
"The region was once governed by a local shah."

How to use shah

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA traditional title for a Persian or Iranian monarch.

Easily confused with

Word forms

shahs plural, shahs plural, shahy plural, shahiv plural, Shahs plural

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Test yourself on “shah” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Can you complete this real example?

The last _____ of Iran was overthrown in the 1979 revolution.

Etymology

From Persian shāh ("king"), ultimately from Old Persian — the same root that gives us "chess" and "check" (as in checkmate, literally "the king is dead").

Origin: Persian

Related words

Rhymes for shah

hah
See all rhymes for shah →

Frequently asked questions

What does “shah” mean?

The word “shah” means a historical title for the king or ruler of Persia (modern-day Iran). In plain terms, a traditional title for a Persian or Iranian monarch.

How do you pronounce “shah”?

“Shah” is pronounced shah (/ʃɑː/ in IPA).

How do you use “shah” in a sentence?

Here is “shah” used in a sentence: “The last Shah of Iran was overthrown in the 1979 revolution.”

What part of speech is “shah”?

“Shah” is a noun.

Where does the word “shah” come from?

The word “shah” comes from Persian. From Persian shāh ("king"), ultimately from Old Persian — the same root that gives us "chess" and "check" (as in checkmate, literally "the king is dead").

Is “shah” a common word?

“Shah” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “shah” have?

“Shah” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a historical title for the king or ruler of Persia (modern-day Iran).

What is the difference between a shah and a king?

'Shah' is a specific historical title used for the ruler of Persia, modern-day Iran, and more broadly for supreme rulers in certain Central, South, or West Asian states. 'King' is a general English term for a monarch and is not tied to a particular region or culture.

Is 'shah' still used as a title today?

The dictionary defines 'shah' as a historical title for the ruler of Persia, though the term has also been applied more broadly to supreme rulers in other Central, South, and West Asian states.

Which countries have used the title 'shah'?

The title 'shah' was historically used in Persia (modern-day Iran) and has also been used more broadly for supreme rulers in certain other Central, South, and West Asian states.

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