How to Pronounce Hijab: A Simple Pronunciation Guide
Hijab is pronounced hih-JAAB — two syllables, with the stress on the second. The "a" in the second syllable is long, like the "a" in "father".
If you have heard it said several different ways and were not sure which was right, this guide breaks it down.
Hijab Pronunciation: The Short Answer
| Format | How it looks |
|---|---|
| Simple phonetic | hih-JAAB |
| Syllables | hi · jab (2 syllables) |
| Stress | On the second syllable |
| IPA (English) | /hɪˈdʒɑːb/ |
| IPA (Arabic) | /ħiˈdʒaːb/ |
Breaking It Down
First syllable: "hih"
Short and light, like the "hi" in "hidden" rather than the word "high". It passes quickly — most of the weight of the word falls on what comes next.
Second syllable: "JAAB"
This is where the stress sits. The "j" is the same sound as in "jam". The vowel is long — "jaab", not "jab". Think of the "a" in "father" or "car" rather than the "a" in "cat".
Put together: hih-JAAB.
How to Say Hijab in Arabic
The Arabic pronunciation is close to the English one, with one sound that does not exist in English.
The opening letter is ḥāʾ (ح), a breathy "h" produced further back in the throat than the English "h" — a little like the sound of breathing onto a cold window. English speakers naturally substitute a normal "h", and that is completely understood.
The rest is the same: a short first vowel, a "j" sound, and a long "aa" carrying the stress.
Three Common Mispronunciations
- "HIGH-jab" — stressing the first syllable and making the first vowel long. This is the most common error in English.
- "hih-jab" with a short second vowel, rhyming with "cab". The vowel should be long: jaab.
- "hee-jab" — the first vowel is short, not stretched.
None of these will cause offense. People will understand you either way, and getting it slightly wrong while trying is better than avoiding the word.
How to Pronounce Related Words
| Word | Pronunciation | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Hijab | hih-JAAB | Headscarf covering hair, ears and neck |
| Niqab | nih-KAAB | Face veil leaving the eyes visible |
| Khimar | khih-MAAR | Longer pre sewn covering to the chest |
| Abaya | uh-BYE-uh | Loose full-length outer garment |
| Shayla | SHAY-lah | Long rectangular scarf style |
| Hijabi | hih-JAA-bee | A woman who wears hijab |
All of these follow a similar pattern: the stress falls on the syllable with the long vowel.
Is It Hijab or Hijaab?
Both spellings appear in English. Hijab is the standard form and what you will see in dictionaries and general use. Hijaab is a transliteration that makes the long vowel explicit, closer to how the Arabic is written.
The pronunciation is identical. Hijab is the spelling to use.
What Does Hijab Mean?
Hijab comes from the Arabic root meaning to cover or to screen. In everyday use it refers to the headscarf worn by many Muslim women, covering the hair, ears and neck while leaving the face fully visible.
Our guide to hijab meaning covers the word, the garment and the practice in more detail.
Also Worth Knowing
- Types of hijab — shayla, khimar, instant and the other main styles
- How to wear a hijab — five wraps, each under two minutes
- Hijab fabrics compared — modal, jersey, chiffon and instant
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