Imam

See also: imam, imám, and imâm

English

Etymology

Occupational surname, borrowed from Arabic إمام (ʔimām). This surname is mostly found in Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Proper noun

Imam (plural Imams)

1. A surname from Arabic.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Imam is the 29041^st most common surname in the United States, belonging to 817 individuals. Imam is most common among Asian/Pacific Islander (70.99%) and White (13.22%) individuals.

Further reading

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Imam”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 2, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 226.

Anagrams

• I'mma, Imma, Mami, imma, maim, mami

German

Etymology

From Arabic إمام (ʔimām).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iˈmaːm/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Imam m (strong, genitive Imams or Imam, plural Imame or Imams)

1. (Islam, all sects) anyone who leads a group of Muslims in prayer
2. (Sunni Islam) imam; a trained cleric who leads a congregation
3. (Shia Islam Islam) imam; Imam; a politico-religious leader inaugurated by God
   1. (Twelver Shiism) one of twelve individuals, descendants of Muhammad living in the 7th to 9th centuries CE, who are believed to have been sinless and infallible
   2. (other Shiism) one of a per se unlimited line of leaders, who must be descendants of Muhammad but are not necessarily ascribed superhuman qualities

Usage notes

• The alternative plural Imams is widely obsolete in Germany but may still see some usage in Switzerland and elsewhere.

Declension

Declension of Imam [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Imam	die	Imame, Imams
genitive	eines	des	Imams, Imam	der	Imame, Imams
dative	einem	dem	Imam	den	Imamen, Imams
accusative	einen	den	Imam	die	Imame, Imams

Related terms

• Imamat
• Imamit

Further reading

• “Imam” in Duden online

Indonesian

Etymology

Ultimately from Arabic إِمَام (ʔimām).

Proper noun

Imam

1. a male given name from Arabic
2. (Islam, all sects) anyone who leads a group of Muslims in prayer
3. (Sunni Islam) imam; a trained cleric who leads a congregation