azan

[ ah-zahn ]

noun

1. (in Islamic countries) the call to prayer proclaimed five times a day by the muezzin.

azan

/ ɑːˈzɑːn /

noun

1. Islam the call to prayer five times a day, usually by a muezzin from a minaret

Word History and Origins

Origin of azan¹

First recorded in 1850–55, azan is from the Arabic word adhān invitation. See muezzin

Word History and Origins

Origin of azan¹

from Arabic adhān, from adhina to proclaim, invite; see muezzin

Example Sentences

The song became Azan Nan Kpe, released in 1994 on Kidjo's ground-breaking album Aye, which also contains Agolo, probably her biggest hit of all, written when she was six months pregnant.

From BBC

During controversy surrounding the construction of the large mosque, backers made a point of assuring the public that it would not routinely broadcast the call to prayer, or azan, which is heard five times a day in Muslim countries.

From Reuters

Azan Aydin and her husband Aytac, who are of Turkish descent but were both born and raised in the Netherlands, said they went through a decade of battling tax authorities after wrongly being labeled fraudsters and ordered to repay some 52,000 euros.

From Seattle Times

“What’s the point for me?” said Azan.

From Seattle Times

Muslims recite the azan — the call to prayer — in the ear of every newborn, but we leave it out of the final prayer for the deceased.

From New York Times