Learn How to Pronounce Ruhollah Khomeini

Quick Answer: In Persian, the name Ruhollah Khomeini is pronounced [ruːholˈlɒːh xomejˈniː], while in English it is pronounced [ˌruːhɒːˈlə koʊˈmeɪni].
(Listen to the audio above for the stress and intonation)

The Expert's Take

Dr. Franz Lang

"The name Khomeini is a phonetic workout. I often use it to teach the 'h' and 'kh' distinction. I recall a student who thought the 'h' in Ruhollah was silent, like in French. I had to explain that every letter in Persian phonology works for its living!"

By Dr. Franz Lang

Meaning and Context

Ruhollah Khomeini, born in 1902, was the pivotal Iranian Shia cleric, revolutionary leader, and political theorist who masterminded the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy. His leadership of the 1979 Iranian Revolution fundamentally reshaped the Middle East's geopolitical landscape, leading to the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a theocratic state governed by the principle of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist). As the first Supreme Leader of Iran, a position he held from 1979 until his death in 1989, Khomeini's ideology of political Islam and anti-Western sentiment defined Iranian domestic and foreign policy, including the tense US-Iran relations underscored by the 444-day Iran hostage crisis. His legacy continues to exert profound influence on Iran's government, its regional proxy networks, and the global discourse on religion and state sovereignty.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name "Ruhollah Khomeini" is subject to several transliterations from Persian into the Latin alphabet, leading to common variations. The most frequent alternative spelling is "Ruhollah Khomeini," which is the direct transliteration and widely accepted in academic and journalistic contexts. Other spellings include "Rouhollah Khomeini" or "Ruhullah Khomeini," reflecting different approaches to representing the initial vowel sound. A frequent error, particularly in older Western media, is the spelling "Khomeiny." The most significant and common mistake, however, is the misplacement of the honorific "Ayatollah," which is a title, not part of his given name. Thus, "Ayatollah Khomeini" is correct, while "Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini" is formally precise but often shortened in common usage. Typos often involve the "Kh" beginning, resulting in errors like "Homeini" or "Komeini."

Example Sentences

The writings and sermons of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, often disseminated via cassette tapes, were instrumental in mobilizing mass opposition against the Shah.

Following the success of the revolution, Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile in France to a tumultuous welcome in Tehran.

Critics argue that Khomeini's implementation of Velayat-e Faqih consolidated clerical power at the expense of democratic ideals.

The foreign policies of the Islamic Republic, shaped by Khomeini's principles, have remained consistently adversarial toward Western influence in the region.

Historians frequently cite the fatwa issued by Khomeini against author Salman Rushdie as a landmark event in international cultural relations.

Sources and References

I turned to Wikipedia and YouGlish to hear the name in historical documentaries about the 1979 revolution. I also consult academic works on Islamic history and listen to archival news reports from the late 1970s to hear how the name first entered the global English lexicon.

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