chií

Shia

adjective chee-EE Rare

Origin: From Arabic shī'ī (follower, partisan), from shī'a (party, faction), referring to the partisans of Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Usage Note

Chií (also spelled chiíta or chiita) refers to the branch of Islam followed by roughly 15% of Muslims worldwide. Spanish uses both chií and the longer form chiíta, the latter being more common in journalistic writing. The word is invariable in gender when used adjectivally (el mundo chií, la comunidad chií), though chiíta follows regular adjective agreement. Its counterpart is suní (Sunni).

Examples

"La comunidad chií celebró la festividad con devoción."

Natural Translation

The Shia community celebrated the festival with devotion.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

How to Memorize Spanish Vocabulary Fast (That Sticks)

Memorize Spanish vocabulary fast with a 15-minute daily loop: spaced repetition, frequency-first words, and example-sentence cards that actually stick.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Roll Your Rs in Spanish (Even If You Can't Yet)

Roll your Rs in Spanish by building from the butter sound you already make, then adding airflow. A step-by-step method, minimal pairs, and self-check drills.

June 3, 2026 7 min read

SpanishNow

Mexican Spanish Slang Every Traveler Should Know

Mexican Spanish slang decoded for travelers: what güey, mande, órale, and ahorita really mean, who you can safely say them to, and how rude each one is.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Tener in Spanish: Why You're Hungry, Cold & 30 Years

In Spanish you HAVE hunger, cold, and 30 years — not are them. Master tener expressions like tengo hambre, tengo frío, and tengo 30 años in one rule.

June 9, 2026 5 min read