What does the word "Quran" mean?

The root of the word

In Arabic, most words grow from a three-letter root. "Quran" comes from qaf, ra and hamza, the root of qara'a, "he read" or "he recited". "Qur'an" is a verbal noun, so it can mean both the act of reciting and the thing that is recited. Some early scholars also linked the root to the idea of "gathering together", because the Quran gathers its verses, stories and guidance into one book. The meaning of "recitation" is the best known and most accepted.

The very first word revealed to the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Hira came from the same root.

Spelling: Quran, Qur'an or Koran?

All three refer to the same book. "Qur'an" shows the Arabic glottal stop with an apostrophe. "Quran" is the simple modern spelling used by most English-speaking Muslims. "Koran" is an older English spelling you'll still see in some books and newspapers. None of them is wrong, but many Muslims prefer "Quran" or "Qur'an" because they're closer to the Arabic sound.

Other names for the Quran

The Quran calls itself by several names, each showing a different quality:

• Al-Kitab, "the Book": it is also written and preserved.
• Al-Furqan, "the Criterion": it separates truth from falsehood (Quran 25:1).
• Adh-Dhikr, "the Reminder" (Quran 15:9).
• Al-Huda, "Guidance", and Nur, "Light".

Muslims believe the Quran is the speech of Allah, not the words of the Prophet. See Who wrote the Quran?

Why the meaning matters for you

A name that means "recitation" tells you how the Quran is meant to be used: read out loud, heard, repeated and lived. That's why Muslims recite it in prayer, play it in their homes and memorize it. A translation helps you understand the meaning, but the Arabic recitation itself is the Quran. See Is a Quran translation still the Quran? And yes, you can recite it aloud around others too. See Can I recite the Quran out loud in public?