Ayatollahとは 意味・読み方・使い方

別の表記

• ayatolla

語源

Borrowed from Iranian Persian آیَتُ‌اللّٰه (âyato-l-lâh), from Classical Persian آیَةُاللّٰه (āyatu-l-lāh), from Arabic آيَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ (ʔāyatu llāhi, “sign of God”, from آيَة (ʔāya, “sign”) +‎ اللّٰه (allāh, “God”)).

発音

• (General American) IPA: /aɪ.əˈtoʊl.ə/

名詞

ayatollah (plural ayatollahs)

1. (Shia Islam) A religious leader in Twelverism.
   • 2026 March 5, Zvika Klein, quoting Ophir Falk, “Netanyahu adviser to 'Post': Best way to remove ayatollah threat is to remove ayatollahs”, in The Jerusalem Post‎, archived from the original on 10 March 2026:

     "It could also pave the way for the Iranian people to seize this unique opportunity and shape their own future," Falk clarified. “I doubt the Iranian people want to replace one ayatollah with another ayatollah.”

2. (colloquial) An authority on any subject.
   • 1983 February 5, Shiva, “SM/Feminism/Antisemitism”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 28, page 4:

     P.S. This writer does NOT speak as the Ayatollah of SM. (There isn't one.) If you really want to know more, talk to sadomasochists, or at least do some reading if you're too scared to ask.