Sheik is a noun referring to a leader, elder, or respected figure in Arab and some Islamic communities; it is often used as a honorific or title. In English, the term is typically a transliteration of the Arabic شَيْخ (shāykh) and can denote a tribal chief, religious leader, or respected man. The pronunciation varies by dialect, but in English contexts it commonly rhymes with “chic” or “leak” depending on the speaker, and it carries cultural resonance beyond its literal meaning.
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