🧑‍🎓 A surname 👑 A chief ⚓ A ship captain

rais

9.9

A person who leads a community and settles disputes, often in North Africa and the Middle East

noun

: rais

44 Mustafa Ceric, the rais ul elema of Bosnia, has promoted bans on the sale of pork and mixed marriages.

Examples

After much debate, the community chose a new rais to guide them through the transition.
The tribes gathered to discuss their future, seeking a wise rais who could unite them.
In the traditional ceremony, the elders appointed a rais to lead their village for the upcoming year.

Synonyms

nagus

vsrais

75 9.9

A title for a king in Ethiopia

is a general leader term and not specifically a monarchial ruler

amir

vsrais

11 9.2

A local ruler or chief in parts of Africa and Arabia

can mean a leader without implying independent sovereign power

ameer

vsrais

1 9.9

A local ruler or chief in parts of Arabia and Africa

may be a local or regional leader without full sovereign status

caid

vsrais

9.9

A local leader who acts as a judge in parts of North Africa and the Middle East

is a regional leader not limited to local judicial or village roles

Arab chief

vsrais

6.7

A person who leads an Arab village, tribe, or family and has power in the community

serves as a regional leader beyond specific tribal or family authority

reis

vsrais

Archaic

9.9

A historical title for a ship captain or leader in the Ottoman navy

is a broader leader term not tied to a historical naval or military rank

ras

vsrais

9.9

A traditional Ethiopian leader like a chief or noble

applies mainly in North African or Middle Eastern settings rather than Ethiopian ones

sardar

vsrais

8.4

A respected leader who makes decisions for a village or community

is used mainly in North African or Middle Eastern contexts, not South Asian ones

salar

vsrais

Archaic

9.9

A leader who commands soldiers and protects a city or caravan in former times

refers to civilian or tribal leadership rather than a military command title

Surface Forms

rais singular

raisin plural

Etymology

Rais comes from the Arabic ra'īs, which means 'head' or 'leader', and it was used for a village or local chief. So, a rais is someone who is the head or leader of a community.