Definition
Plural of deacon; multiple ordained church officials who help the clergy and serve the congregation.
Etymology
From Greek 'diakonos' (servant), through Latin 'diaconus,' the word originally meant a servant or messenger before becoming an official church title.
Kelly Says
The word 'deacon' literally means 'servant,' yet deacons historically had significant power and responsibility—St. Stephen, the first deacon, was important enough that his death sparked the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
Deacons
Dee-ak-ons
ARالعربية
الdiacons
al-dee-ah-koh-n
BNবাংলা
দিয়াকন
dee-ah-kon
CACatalà
diacons
dee-ah-koh-ns
CSČeština
diakoni
dee-ah-koh-nee-eh
DADansk
diakoner
dee-ah-koh-neh-r
DEDeutsch
Diakone
dee-ah-koh-neh
ELΕλληνικά
διάκονοι
dee-ah-koh-noi
ESEspañol
diáconos
dee-ah-koh-nos
FAفارسی
دیاکون
dee-ah-kon
FISuomi
diakonit
dee-ah-koh-nee-t
FRFrançais
diacres
dee-ah-kreh
HEעברית
מנהיגים דיאקונים
me-nah-ee-geem dee-ah-kon-im
HIहिन्दी
दीयाकन
dee-ya-kan
HUMagyar
diakonok
dee-ah-koh-nokh
IDBahasa Indonesia
diakon
dee-ah-kon
ITItaliano
diaconi
dee-ah-koh-nee
KO한국어
로마 가톨릭 교회의 사제
ro-ma ga-tol-lik gyo-hoe-ui sa-je
MSBahasa Melayu
diakon
dee-ah-kon
MYမြန်မာ
deacon
dee-ak-on
NLNederlands
diakenen
dee-ah-keh-nen
NONorsk
diakoner
dee-ah-koh-neh-r
PLPolski
diakonów
dee-ah-koh-noh-v
PTPortuguês
diáconos
dee-ah-koh-nos
RORomână
diaconi
dee-ah-koh-nee
RUРусский
диаконы
dee-ah-koh-nee
SVSvenska
diakoner
dee-ah-koh-neh-r
SWKiswahili
diakoni
dee-ah-koh-nee
TAதமிழ்
பணியாளர்கள்
pa-ni-ya-la-r-gal
TEతెలుగు
డియకాన్లు
dee-yah-kan-lu
THไทย
ผู้ช่วยเจ้าหน้าที่
poo-chue-jao-na-thee
TRTürkçe
diakonlar
dee-ah-koh-n-lar
UKУкраїнська
диякони
dee-ah-koh-nee
URاردو
diacons
dee-ah-koh-n
VITiếng Việt
các chức vụ mục sư
cac-chuc-vu-muc-su
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Deacon historically referred to ordained male clergy only. Women were formally excluded from the diaconate in most Christian traditions until recent decades, making the term carry male-default assumptions.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'deacons' neutrally when inclusive communities ordain all genders. Specify 'deacon' as a role anyone can hold; avoid 'deaconess' unless speakers reclaim it historically.
Inclusive Alternatives
["clerics","ordained ministers","diaconal ministers"]
Empowerment Note
Women deacons have fought for recognition; their ordination in some Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox communities represents recent reclamation of this role.