minaret

Meaning

The tall slender tower of an Islamic mosque, from which the muezzin recites the adhan (call to prayer).

Synonyms

belfry

lighthouse

pagoda

spire

steeple

stupa

tower

Translations

minaret

alminar

Minarett

minarete

minareto

minare

minaret

minaret

μιναρές

minarete

مئذنة

منارة

minaret

مِئْذَنَة

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmɪnəɹɛt/

Etymology

Cognate with Turkish: minare

In summary

First attested in 1682. Borrowed from French minaret, from Ottoman Turkish مناره (Turkish minare), from Arabic مَنَارَة (manāra, “lighthouse”). See note on pronunciations and borrowing of words with ـَة (-a). From the same Proto-Semitic root *nūr- (“fire”) as menorah.