Standard Lemma guide

khan

name · noun · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈkɑːn/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɑːn
  • homophone: con
  • homophone: khan
  • /kɑːn/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • homophone: carn (non-rhotic)
  • homophone: con (father-bother merger)
  • CMU ARPABET: K AA1 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

A male given name used extensively among Muslims of South Asia.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

name

Meaning 2

A surname derived from the given name.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An Ottoman sultan.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Synonym of caravanserai (particularly in Middle Eastern contexts)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: caravanserai

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

Synonym of fonduk (“inn or hotel in Middle Eastern contexts”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fonduk

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

an inn in some eastern countries with a large courtyard that provides accommodation for caravans

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: caravansary, caravanserai, caravan inn

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hostel, hostelry, inn, lodge, auberge

9

noun

Meaning 9

a title given to rulers or other important people in Asian countries

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: ruler, swayer

History

Etymology

As a surname via Urdu خان (xān), Persian خان (xân), among others. As a title, a proper noun form of khan.

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.

From Arabic خَان (ḵān, “inn, caravanserai, hotel”) and Persian خان (xân, “inn, caravanserai”).

Across languages

Translations

109 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: خَان (ḵān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Armenian: խան (xan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Azerbaijani: xan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Azerbaijani: xaqan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Bashkir: хан (xan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Belarusian: хан (xan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Bengali: খান (khan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Bulgarian: кан (kan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Bulgarian: хан (han) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Catalan: kan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Chinese Mandarin: 可汗 (kèhán) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Chuvash: хан (han) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Crimean Tatar: han — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Czech: chán — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Danish: khan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Dutch: khan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Dutch: kan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Esperanto: ĥano — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Estonian: khaan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Finnish: kaani — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • French: khan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Galician: khan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Galician: can — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Georgian: ხანი (xani) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Georgian: ყაენი (q̇aeni) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • German: Chan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • German: Khan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Greek: χάνος (chános) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Ancient Greek: χαγᾶνος (khagânos) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Gujarati: ખાન (khān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Gujarati: ખાં (khā̃) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Hebrew: חַאן (khan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Hindi: खान (khān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Hindi: खन (khan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Hindi: ख़ान (xān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Hindi: ख़ागान (xāgān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Hindi: ख़ाक़ान (xāqān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Hungarian: kán — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Ido: khan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Italian: khan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Japanese: カーン (kān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Japanese: 汗 (kan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Japanese: ハーン (hān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Japanese: カガン (kagan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Kalmyk: хаан (xaan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Kazakh: хан (xan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Kazakh: қаған (qağan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Khmer: ខាន់ (khan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Korean: 칸 (kan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Korean: 가한 (gahan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Korean: 카간 (kagan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Kyrgyz: хан (han) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Kyrgyz: каган (kagan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Kyrgyz: кан (kan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Latin: chānus — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Latin: chanis — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Latvian: hans — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Lithuanian: chanas — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Macedonian: кан (kan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Macedonian: хан (han) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Manchu: ᡥᠠᠨ (han) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Manchu: ᡥᠠᠨ᠋ (han) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Marathi: खान (khāna) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Middle Mongol: ᠬᠠᠭ᠍ᠠᠨ (qaɣan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Middle Mongol: ᠬ᠋ᠠᠭᠠᠨ᠋ (qaɣan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Middle Mongol: ᠬᠠᠨ (qan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Mongolian: ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ (qaɣan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Mongolian: ᠬᠠᠨ (qan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Mongolian: хаан (xaan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Mongolian: хан (xan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Norwegian Bokmål: khan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Persian: خان (xân) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Persian: خاقان (xâqân) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Polish: chan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Polish: kagan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Portuguese: cã — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Portuguese: cão — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Romanian: han — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Russian: хан (xan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Russian: кага́н (kagán) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Serbo-Croatian: ка̑н — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Serbo-Croatian: kȃn — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Shor: қаан — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Slovak: chán — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Slovene: kan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Spanish: kan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Swedish: khan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Tajik: хон (xon) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Tamil: கான் (kāṉ) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Tatar: хан (xan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Tatar: каган (qağan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Thai: ข่าน (kàan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Tofa: һаан (haan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Turkish: han — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Turkish: kağan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Turkish: hakan — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Ukrainian: хан (xan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Ukrainian: кага́н (kahán) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Urdu: خان (xān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Urdu: خاقان (xāqān) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Uyghur: خان (xan) — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Uzbek: xon — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Uzbek: xoqon — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Vietnamese: hãn — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Vietnamese: khả hãn — a ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages
  • Ido: khan — an Ottoman sultan
  • Marathi: खान (khān) — an Ottoman sultan
  • Ido: khan — a noble man in various Muslim countries
  • Marathi: खान (khān) — a noble man in various Muslim countries