Meaning & use
jalabiya
Last updated
UK/dʒəˈlɑː.bi.jə/
US/dʒəˈlɑː.bi.jə/
Meaning
nouncountable
A long, loose robe with wide sleeves, traditionally worn by men and women in Egypt, Sudan and other parts of the Arab world.
Grammar: Countable: a jalabiya, two jalabiyas.
Patterns
- wear a jalabiya
He wore a white jalabiya to the Friday prayer.
The tailor stitched a blue jalabiya from light cotton.
She bought an embroidered jalabiya at the market in Cairo.
Word forms
| plural | jalabiyas |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear a jalabiya
- Many villagers wear a jalabiya in the heat.
- cotton jalabiya
- A cotton jalabiya stays cool in summer.
- embroidered jalabiya
- The bride gave an embroidered jalabiya as a gift.
- traditional jalabiya
- He paired a traditional jalabiya with leather sandals.
Synonyms and how they differ
- djellaba
- This is the Moroccan form, usually with a pointed hood, while a jalabiya is the Egyptian or Sudanese style and is normally hoodless.
- robe
- Robe is a general English word for any loose garment, not tied to a region.
- thobe
- A thobe is the Gulf style of ankle-length garment, with a narrower cut than a jalabiya.
Commonly confused: jalabiya or jalapeño?
jalabiya vs jalapeño
A jalapeño is a Mexican chili pepper, and has nothing to do with clothing.
Practice
What is a jalabiya?
Choose one answer.
A jalabiya is a long loose garment. It is not a food, instrument or scarf.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “jalabiya”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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