hedjaz: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic/Historical/Geographical
Quick answer
What does “hedjaz” mean?
A historical region in western Arabia, containing the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical region in western Arabia, containing the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Refers to the mountainous, western part of the Arabian Peninsula along the Red Sea, historically significant as the cradle of Islam and the location of the Hejaz Railway.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'Hedjaz' is an older, now less common transliteration. Both UK and US academic writing overwhelmingly prefer 'Hejaz'. 'Hedjaz' may appear in older British texts.
Connotations
Use of 'Hedjaz' may signal a reliance on older sources or a specific historical period (e.g., early 20th-century diplomacy). 'Hejaz' is the standard modern form.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. 'Hejaz' is moderately more frequent in academic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “hedjaz” in a Sentence
the [Noun] of HedjazHedjaz [Preposition] [Noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hedjaz” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
N/A
Academic
Used in historical, geographical, and Islamic studies texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in historical cartography and certain historiographies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hedjaz”
- Using lowercase ('hedjaz'), misspelling as 'Hedjazz', confusing it with 'Hijab'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same region. 'Hedjaz' is an older, less common transliteration; 'Hejaz' is the modern standard spelling.
It is the historical birthplace of Islam, containing its two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina.
No. It is a historical region now part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Only if you are directly quoting an older source that uses that spelling. Otherwise, use the modern standard 'Hejaz'.
A historical region in western Arabia, containing the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Hedjaz is usually academic/historical/geographical in register.
Hedjaz: in British English it is pronounced /hɛˈdʒæz/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɛˈdʒɑːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HE'D' travel 'JAZ' (jazzed) to visit the holy sites in the historical HE'D'JAZ'.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the modern, standard spelling for 'Hedjaz'?