hijaz: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist, Historical, Cultural
Quick answer
What does “hijaz” mean?
The Hijaz is a region in western Saudi Arabia along the Red Sea coast, containing the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The Hijaz is a region in western Saudi Arabia along the Red Sea coast, containing the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
In music theory, a hijaz (or 'hijaz maqam') refers to a family of musical scales commonly used in Arabic, Turkish, and Persian music, characterized by a specific sequence of intervals often described as having a 'minor' or 'oriental' sound. It is also the name of a musical instrument.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties primarily encounter the word in historical, religious (Islamic), or musical contexts. British English might encounter it slightly more in historical colonial contexts.
Connotations
Connotations are strongly tied to Islamic history and culture, pilgrimage (Hajj), and Middle Eastern music.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general usage in both varieties, limited to specific fields.
Grammar
How to Use “hijaz” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] the Hijaz[Adjective] + Hijaz (e.g., western Hijaz)the [Noun] of HijazVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hijaz” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Hijazi coastline is historically significant.
American English
- He played a haunting Hijaz melody on the oud.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used, except potentially in very niche contexts like tourism related to religious pilgrimage.
Academic
Used in history, religious studies, Middle Eastern studies, and ethnomusicology.
Everyday
Extremely rare, only in discussions of Islamic history, pilgrimage, or world music.
Technical
Specific technical use in music theory to denote a scale/mode.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hijaz”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hijaz”
- Misspelling as 'Hejaz' (an alternate valid spelling) or 'Hidjaz'.
- Mispronouncing with a hard 'j' /dʒ/ as in 'jump' instead of the correct softer approximation.
- Using lowercase for the geographical region (should be capitalized).
- Confusing the musical term with a general term for 'Arabic music'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Hijaz' is a common transliteration from Arabic, while 'Hejaz' is an older, established English spelling.
It is a principal musical mode (maqam) in Arabic music, known for its distinctive, often melancholic sound, built on a specific sequence of intervals including an augmented second.
It is the birthplace of Islam, containing its two holiest cities (Mecca and Medina), and has been a centre for pilgrimage (Hajj) for over 1,400 years.
No, it is a low-frequency word. Most English speakers will only encounter it in specific contexts related to Middle Eastern history, Islamic culture, or world music.
The Hijaz is a region in western Saudi Arabia along the Red Sea coast, containing the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Hijaz is usually specialist, historical, cultural in register.
Hijaz: in British English it is pronounced /hɪˈdʒɑːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɪˈdʒɑːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a JAZZ band travelling on a HIGH way to a holy city. HI-JAZ = a high (important) region with a name that sounds like a musical genre.
Conceptual Metaphor
CROSSROADS: The Hijaz is historically a crossroads for trade and pilgrimage. BRIDGE: It acts as a bridge between Africa and Asia, and between the secular and the sacred.
Practice
Quiz
In which field, other than geography, is the term 'hijaz' used as a technical term?