almohad: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very low
UK/ˈælməʊhæd/US/ˈælmoʊˌhæd/

Academic/Historical

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Quick answer

What does “almohad” mean?

A member of a Berber Muslim movement and dynasty that conquered North Africa and Spain in the 12th–13th centuries.

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A member of a Berber Muslim movement and dynasty that conquered North Africa and Spain in the 12th–13th centuries.

Pertaining to the Almohad movement, its doctrines, art, or architecture.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in usage; the term is specialist and used identically in both academic traditions.

Connotations

Historical, Islamic, North African, medieval.

Frequency

Extremely rare in general usage; appears almost exclusively in historical texts.

Grammar

How to Use “almohad” in a Sentence

The Almohads + verb (e.g., conquered, ruled, established)Almohad + noun (e.g., architecture, reform, empire)

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Almohad dynastyAlmohad CaliphateAlmohad ruleAlmohad architecture
medium
Almohad forcesAlmohad periodAlmohad doctrineAlmohad conquest
weak
under the AlmohadAlmohad influenceAlmohad leader

Examples

Examples of “almohad” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The Almohad minaret is a landmark of Seville.
  • Almohad theology was rigorously unitarian.

American English

  • The Almohad minaret is a landmark of Seville.
  • Almohad theology was strictly unitarian.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Academic

Used in history, Islamic studies, and art history to refer to the dynasty and its artefacts.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

Used in archaeology and historiography to describe specific periods, styles, and coinage.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “almohad”

Strong

Almohad dynasty (for the entity)

Neutral

Almohadist

Weak

Berber reformersmedieval North African dynasty

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “almohad”

Almoravid (preceding rival dynasty)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “almohad”

  • Misspelling as 'Almohade', 'Almohads' (plural) used incorrectly as a singular adjective.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It comes from Arabic 'al-Muwaḥḥidūn', meaning 'those who affirm the unity of God'. They were a Berber Muslim movement.

The movement began in the 1120s and the empire lasted until the mid-13th century.

At its peak, it controlled much of North Africa (Maghreb) and the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus).

Yes, commonly in terms like 'Almohad architecture', 'Almohad coinage', or 'Almohad policy'.

A member of a Berber Muslim movement and dynasty that conquered North Africa and Spain in the 12th–13th centuries.

Almohad is usually academic/historical in register.

Almohad: in British English it is pronounced /ˈælməʊhæd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈælmoʊˌhæd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'ALl MOdern HAD to start somewhere' – the Almohads were reformers who wanted a 'modern' purer Islam.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The dynasty built the famous Giralda tower in Seville.
Multiple Choice

The Almohads were primarily known as: