khan

CEFRB2

/kɑːn/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A title used by rulers or important leaders in Central Asia.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A noble or man of rank in various Muslim countries of Central Asia, including Afghanistan.

Examples

  • Kublai Khan is the grandson of Genghis Khan.

  • Queen Elizabeth II is thought to be descended from Genghis Khan via her grandmother.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1
Synonyms
3

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. An Ottoman sultan.

  2. A ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages.

  3. Synonym of caravanserai (particularly in Middle Eastern contexts)

More examples

In context

  • At each of these stations there is a hostelry which they call a khan, where travellers alight with their beasts, and outside each khan is a public watering-place and a shop at which the traveller may buy what he requires for himself and his beast.

  • ‘Guess the name of that,’ she said, pointing to her delicate parts. The porter tried this name and that and ended by asking her to tell him and cease her slapping. ‘The khān of Abu-Mansur,’ she replied.

Synonyms

Quick test

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The legendary blank led his warriors across Asia in the 13th century.

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Nearby

Origin

noun

Via late Middle English can, chan from Old French chan, from Medieval Latin chanis, from Turkic *qan, contraction of *qaɣan. Cognate with Old Turkic 𐰴𐰍𐰣 (qaɣan), and Mongolian хаан (xaan), possibly from Rouran. Sense 1 (ruler in the Middle Ages) after Genghis Khan, from Middle Mongol ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ (qaɣan). Doublet of khagan.