---
title: "خَلِيفَة (khalīfa) meaning in Arabic: caliph; successor"
description: "خَلِيفَة (khalīfa) means “caliph; successor”. Root خ·ل·ف, pattern فَعِيلَة, level B1: forms, related words and how to read it letter by letter, from the Fasaha dictionary."
canonical: "https://fasaha.app/w/khalifa"
language: "en"
direction: "ltr"
---

# خَلِيفَة

*khalīfa* · **caliph; successor**

خَلِيفَة (khalīfa) is an Arabic noun meaning “caliph; successor”. It is built on the root خ·ل·ف in the pattern فَعِيلَة. Fasaha’s library first uses it at level B1.

- Part of speech: Noun
- Root: خ·ل·ف
- Pattern: فَعِيلَة
- Level: B1

## Words from the root خ·ل·ف

Arabic builds families of words on one root. These share the root خ·ل·ف with خَلِيفَة; each opens its own entry.

- [مُخْتَلِف](https://fasaha.app/w/mukhtalif) — mukhtalif, different (A2)

## How to read خَلِيفَة, letter by letter

5 letters, read from right to left. The marks above and below the letters are the short vowels.

- خ — خاء (khāʾ): kh, like the ch in Bach
- ل — لام (lām): l
- ي — ياء (yāʾ): y, or a long i
- ف — فاء (fāʾ): f
- ة — تاء مربوطة (tāʾ marbūṭa): a t at the end of a feminine word, read as a soft a when you pause

## You already know this word

The English word “caliph” comes from the Arabic خَلِيفَة: the word you already use is the one you are learning.

## Questions about خَلِيفَة

### What is the root of خَلِيفَة?

The root of خَلِيفَة is خ·ل·ف. Words built on the same root include مُخْتَلِف (different).

### What pattern does خَلِيفَة follow?

خَلِيفَة follows the pattern فَعِيلَة, with the root letters خ·ل·ف poured into it.

### What level is خَلِيفَة?

Fasaha first uses خَلِيفَة at level B1, on a scale from A0 (first words) to C2 (classical prose).


[All words in the Fasaha dictionary](https://fasaha.app/w)