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Meaning & use

hijab

noun·Advancedreligion

Last updated

UK/hɪˈdʒɑːb/
US/hɪˈdʒɑːb/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablereligion

    A scarf or similar cloth that some Muslim women wear to cover their hair and neck as an expression of modesty and faith.

    Grammar: Usually countable for the garment: she bought a new hijab.

    Patterns

    • wear a hijab
    • a hijab in a certain color

    Amina pinned her hijab in place before leaving for school.

    The shop sells hijabs in cotton, silk and jersey.

    She chose a navy hijab to match her coat.

  2. noununcountablereligion

    The wider practice or principle of modest dress and behavior in Islam, not only the head covering.

    Grammar: Used without an or the when naming the practice: hijab is a personal choice for many women.

    Patterns

    • observe hijab
    • the meaning of hijab

    The lecture explained how hijab is understood in different communities.

    For her, hijab is as much about conduct as about clothing.

    Scholars discuss hijab in relation to both men and women.

Word forms

pluralhijabs

Common combinations

wear a hijab
She started to wear a hijab when she was sixteen.
take off her hijab
She took off her hijab once she got inside the women-only gym.
a silk hijab
He gave his sister a silk hijab for her birthday.
the right to wear a hijab
The court case was about the right to wear a hijab at work.
hijab fashion
Hijab fashion has grown into a large online community.

Synonyms and how they differ

headscarf
Headscarf is a neutral everyday word for any scarf worn over the hair, whereas hijab specifically carries a religious meaning.
veil
Veil is a broader term that can mean a face covering or a bridal veil, so it is less precise than hijab for a Muslim head covering.
niqab
A niqab covers the face except the eyes, while a hijab leaves the face visible.

Word family

hijabi noun
a woman who wears a hijab, often used by Muslim women themselves
hijabs noun
the plural form

Commonly confused: hijab or burqa? hijab or niqab?

hijab vs burqa

A burqa covers the whole body, usually with a mesh panel over the eyes, while a hijab covers only the hair and neck.

hijab vs niqab

A niqab veils the face and leaves the eyes open; a hijab does not cover the face.

Practice

Which garment covers the hair and neck but leaves the face fully visible?

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