Definition
Plural of caliph; Islamic religious and political leaders who ruled as successors to the Prophet Muhammad.
Etymology
From Arabic khalifah (successor), which passed into English through Arabic historical and religious texts; the plural form follows English conventions.
Kelly Says
Early caliphs actually had to be elected by councils—they weren't automatic hereditary rulers—which meant Islamic leadership succession in the 600s-700s was oddly democratic compared to European kingdoms at the same time.
Translations
CACatalà
califes
kali-fes
CSČeština
chalífové
xali-fo-ve
DEDeutsch
Kalifen
kali-fen
ELΕλληνικά
χαλίφες
xali-fes
ESEspañol
califas
kali-fas
FISuomi
khalifit
xali-fit
FRFrançais
Califes
kali-fɛz
HEעברית
ח'ליפות
xali-foth
HUMagyar
khalifák
xali-fa-k
IDBahasa Indonesia
Khalifah
xali-fa
ITItaliano
Califfi
kali-ffi
MSBahasa Melayu
Khalifah
xali-fa
NLNederlands
kaliefen
kali-fen
PLPolski
kalifowie
kali-fo-vje
PTPortuguês
califas
kali-fas
RORomână
califii
kali-fii
SVSvenska
kalifer
kali-fer
SWKiswahili
Kailifu
ka-li-fu
TAதமிழ்
கலிப்கள்
kali-p-k-gal
TRTürkçe
halifeler
xali-fe-ler
UKУкраїнська
халіфи
xalify
VITiếng Việt
Caliph
ka-li-ph